HCPS FL Logo Leadership, Professional Development, and School Transformation
Action Item
DATE: Tuesday, July 30, 2019
TO: School Board Members
FROM: Jeff Eakins, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve the Commodities Agreement #19145-EST-IV with Open Up Resources (Sole Source Provider) (Leadership, Professional Development, and School Transformation)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Open Up Resources Expeditionary Learning (EL) curricular resources will be utilized in nine Achievement Schools: Cleveland, Forest Hills, Dover, Shaw, Potter, Robles, Palm River, Folsom, and McDonald.  The schools are engaged in work with the University of Virginia Partnership for Leaders in Education. The EL curricular resources will be piloted in the nine schools to increase student engagement and achievement in reading and writing by focusing on student excellence in three core areas:  mastery of knowledge and skills, character, and high quality student work.  EL is a researched based, highly rated curriculum that is a comprehensive, standards based literacy program which engages teachers and students through compelling, real word content and builds equitable and inclusive learning opportunities for all students.  The program will be implemented for 150 minutes each day in every classroom. The four modules will allow students to build important content knowledge based on compelling topics related to science, social studies, or literature.  Each module uses rich, authentic texts, with the last unit of each module culminating with a performance task where students successfully bring together what they have learned about the topic.  Also included in the program are foundational skills, word work, and small group instruction which allows students to gain greater meaning of the texts they are reading. 

In accordance with the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) Purchasing Policy 6A-1.012(12)(d), commodities or contractual services available only from a single source may be exempted from the competitive solicitation requirements. When a district school board believes that commodities or contractual services are available only from a single source as specified by the FLDOE, the district school board may negotiate on the best terms and conditions with the single source vendor.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• Improve the high school graduation rate • Provide a student-centered learning environment that engages every child
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  Yes)
Funds in the amount of $1,047,970 will be available in the Title IV grant. For tracking purposes, the project number specific to this agenda item is 3743. As of July 11, 2019, the remaining balance less encumbrances for this line item equaled $1,407,970.
EVALUATION
EL curricular resources have been rated by Ed Reports as one of the top three curricular resources across the country.  According to Ed Reports, EL is rated green, meeting expectations in every area including text quality, building knowledge, and usability.  Over 41 states have schools in districts using EL curricular resources with those schools showing positive results. Two schools in Palm Beach County, utilizing the curricular resources, show increases between 9 percent and 11 percent in 4th grade proficiency.  In New York, a school using the curricular resources is showing at or above proficiency climbing from 10 percent to 32 percent, while the number of students testing far below proficiency fell by 29 percent over three years of implementation. In California, an elementary school with students testing at 14 percent proficiency in English Language Arts made a 27-point gain in the two years following the implementation of the curricular resources.  We will be performing our own evaluation of the pilot by reviewing ongoing assessment results.
SUBMITTED BY: 
Tricia McManus   Gretchen Saunders
Assistant Superintendent, Leadership, Professional Development, and School Transformation
(813) 272-4876
  Chief Business Officer
(813) 272-4270
    C 6.24
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20190730_928 (Board Meeting followed by Public Hearing) * Section C Item# 6.24