HCPS FL Logo Instructional Support
Action Item
DATE: Tuesday, December 10, 2013
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve the Purchase of Newspaper Inserts and Services from Tampa Tribune to Recruit Candidates for the Science and Math Accelerated Readiness for Teaching Program (S.M.A.R.T.) (Instructional Support Division)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The S.M.A.R.T Program is funded through the federal Transition to Teaching Grant.  It was designed to attract highly qualified, non-education majors with degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) to become math and/or science teachers in grades 6-12.  Participants in the S.M.A.R.T. Program receive a scholarship to pay for the district’s Alternative Certification Program (ACP).  Participants must finish ACP in one year and teach in a high-needs school for three years.  Participants will then receive a reimbursement for their state testing fees up to $680. 

During the first two years of the grant, recruitment sessions were held at the Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance and the program management team determined that additional methods were needed to generate interest in the S.M.A.R.T. Program.  The Tampa Tribune was contracted to provide advertising services for the S.M.A.R.T. Program and during year three, interest in the program increased significantly from 100 attending information sessions to 180.  During year 4, additional advertising saw an increase to 220 attending and over half of the information session attendees sited the newspaper as how they learned about the S.M.A.R.T. Program.  During year 5, the final year of recruitment, the program management team has worked with the Tampa Tribune to refine the advertising methods utilizing additional inserts.  The first 3 information sessions in year 5 yielded an average of 37 interested individuals, far exceeding the average of 27.5 per session the previous year.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• Recruit, develop, and retain a highly effective, diverse workforce
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  Yes)
Funds of $100,000 will be available in S.M.A.R.T. Program projects 2174 and 2374, which is part of the federal Transition to Teaching grant.  Year-to-date expenditures for 2013-2014, are $28,800.  Last year's expenditures for 2012-2013, were $88,529.67.
EVALUATION
The S.M.A.R.T. program staff will evaluate the quality of services through a two-fold method.  Each individual meeting roster is examined to determine the percentage of participants attending from each advertising method.  Additionally, Dr. Mariann Schmudde, external evaluator, writes a comprehensive report evaluating the grant annually.
SUBMITTED BY:  Jamalya Jackson, Director, Professional Development
George E. Gaffney, Assistant Superintendent   Gretchen Saunders
Instructional Support Division
(813) 273-7033
  Chief Business Officer
(813) 272-4270
    A 6.03
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20131210_604 (Board Meeting) * Section A Item# 6.03