HCPS FL Logo Student Services
Action Item
DATE: Tuesday, December 15, 2015
TO: School Board Members
FROM: Jeff Eakins, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve the Recommendation Regarding the Purchase of Standardized Assessment Materials from NCS Pearson, Inc. (Sole-Source Provider) (Student Services Division) 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) has specific requirements to measure “language skills” and “speech sounds production.”  FLDOE rule 6A-6.030121 requires that “one or more standardized norm-referenced instruments designed to measure language skills” be used in the identification of students with language impairments.  Also included in the standardized assessment materials FLDOE rule 6A-6.03012; this requires that “one or more standardized, norm-referenced instruments designed to measure speech sounds production must be administered to determine the type and severity of the speech sound errors whether the errors are articulation (phonetic) or phonological (phonemic) in nature.”  Therefore, the following list of materials are required to meet the FLDOE rules:

  • Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals, 5th edition (CELF-5) is a standardized assessment designed to measure a student’s strengths and weaknesses in oral language skills needed for success in the classroom.
  • Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals Preschool, 2nd edition (CELF-P2) is a standardized assessment of preschool children’s language skills needed for success in school.
  • Preschool Language Scale, 5th edition (PLS – 5) is a comprehensive test of receptive and expressive language skills for preschool children.
  • Goldman Fristoe Test of Articulation, 3rd edition (GFTA – 3) is a comprehensive measure of the articulation of speech sounds for children and adults.
  • Khan-Lewis Phonological Analysis, 3rd edition (KLPA – 3) is an assessment tool for analyzing phonological processes based on the results of the Goldman Fristoe Test of Articulation, 3rd edition.
  • Oral and Written Language Scales, 2nd edition (OWLS-II) is an individually administered assessment of language processes.

NCS Pearson, Inc. is designated as sole-source and is the publisher and sole source provider for these standardized assessment materials in the United States.  Therefore, this purchase is exempt from the requesting competitive solicitations by the Florida Department of Education 6A-1.012 Purchasing Policies (11) (b).

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• Motivate students to become responsible learners
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  Yes)
Funds in the amount of $50,000.00 will be available in the Fixed Medicaid Claims Administration Project (outlined below). For tracking purposes, the project number specific to this agenda item is 5010. As of Tuesday, December 1, 2015, the remaining balance less encumbrances for this line item equaled $60,000.00.
  • $45.000 available in site 9370
  • $10,000 available in site 9356
  • $12,500 available in site 9353
EVALUATION
Speech-language pathologists currently keep evaluation data. This is reported to the Supervisor of the Speech–Language-Hearing Program at the end of the school year.
SUBMITTED BY:  Maryann Parks, General Director, Department of Exceptional Student Education
Mary Anderson, Coordinator, Speech-Language-Hearing Program
Wynne A. Tye, Assistant Superintendent   Gretchen Saunders
Student Services Division
(813) 273-7033
  Chief Business Officer
(813) 272-4270
    C 6.29
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20151215_706 (Board Meeting) * Section C Item# 6.29