Teaching and Learning Action Item

DATE:	Tuesday, June 11, 2019
TO:	School Board Members
FROM:	Jeff Eakins, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to Participate in the Engaged Quality Instruction Through Professional Development (EQuIPD) Project with the University of Florida (UF) College of Engineering (Office of Teaching and Learning)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
EQuIPD is a program designed to provide professional development for districts seeking more highly qualified teachers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM). Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) is one of several districts in the state of Florida invited to participate.  EQuIPD merges best practices in teacher professional development, technology education, and workforce development to create an innovative model with two goals: a three year K-8 teacher professional development program to support teachers in a “train the trainer model” for development of highly qualified STEM teachers and a three year program designed to aid teachers in earning industrial STEM certifications, as well as increasing interactions between teachers, schools, districts, and industry for STEM workforce development. As a project partner, HCPS will collaborate with faculty from within the College of Engineering, College of Agriculture, and UF Flex, an outreach center from the UF College of Engineering.  EQuIPD will assess the impact of targeted teacher professional development in order to both increase the number of highly qualified STEM elementary and middle school teachers in these schools resulting in improved student learning activities and outcomes.  Throughout the project, teachers will be supported in their work by district personnel, coaches, experts, and by each other as part of a learning cohort. Through the professional development and STEM Certificate sessions within EQuIPD, teachers will become more effective STEM teachers and will connect their classrooms to the real world of work in STEM industries.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• Improve the high school graduation rate • Improve Student Achievement • Provide a student-centered learning environment that engages every child
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  Yes)
Funding for this project is provided by the Department of Education.  UF is the grant's fiscal agent and project funds reside at UF.
EVALUATION
The program will be evaluated by a contracted evaluator by UF.  A data sharing agreement accommodates the MOU.
SUBMITTED BY:  Larry R. Plank, Ed.S., Director K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics

Deborah Cook		Gretchen Saunders
Chief Academic Officer, Teaching and Learning (813) 272-4221		Chief Business Officer (813) 272-4270
		B 6.33
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20190611_925 (Board Meeting) * Section B Item# 6.33