Leadership, Professional Development, and School Transformation Action Item

DATE:	Tuesday, August 20, 2019
TO:	School Board Members
FROM:	Jeff Eakins, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve the Agreement for Technical Services #19150-ATS-IV with Achievement Network (ANet) (Leadership, Professional Development, and School Transformation)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The contract is paid for by a combination of Title II grant dollars and the Instructional Leadership Faculty Development (ILFD) grant provided by the Florida Department of Education. ANet will support the implementation of the EL curriculum in the nine University of Virginia (UVA) pilot sites by providing professional development, on-site coaching and strategic planning with school and district leaders.  ANet will provide monthly professional learning sessions for principals, assistant principals, instructional coaches and classroom teachers focused on high quality literacy planning and instructional practices related to the EL literacy curriculum. ANet will provide full coaching in each of the nine schools and will provide access to an on-line platform, my ANet, and virtual learning tools that provide educators with additional instructional resources to support their practice. ANet staff will also serve as a resource to district leaders by providing cross-divisional systems support through quarterly learning walks, data dives, as well as regular meetings to ensure alignment with intended practices.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• Improve the high school graduation rate • Provide a student-centered learning environment that engages every child • Recruit, support, and retain a highly effective and diverse workforce
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  Yes)
Funds in the amount of $517,000 will be available in the Title II and ILFD Grant. For tracking purposes, the project numbers specific to this agenda item are 3785 and 3750. As of August 1, 2019, the remaining balance less encumbrances for this line item equaled $517,000.
EVALUATION
ANet is a leader across the country in partnering with districts to boost student learning with great teaching that is grounded in learning standards, informed by data, and built on the successful practices of thousands of educators.  Last year they supported 940 schools serving 330,000 students in 26 states. Of the twelve underperforming schools ANet supported in Pinellas County, ten advanced their school grade by one to two letter grades in just one year. In Colorado, ANet partner schools outpaced statewide gains in English language arts and math for three years in a row. In Chicago, for the second year in a row, ANet partner schools average growth was almost four times that of non-Anet schools on the city’s annual report card. In Michigan and Chicago, ANet partner schools outpaced their peers in economically disadvantaged communities by more than two times in English language arts and math. 90 percent of leaders whose schools made major progress say ANet was key to their success. These results plus recommendations from UVA and other partners are the reason ANet was selected to support the EL curriculum implementation in Hillsborough County Public Schools. They are certified by EL to train school and district staff in curriculum implementation. We will progress monitor implementation through regular walkthroughs and quarterly reviews.
SUBMITTED BY:

Tricia McManus		Gretchen Saunders
Assistant Superintendent, Leadership, Professional Development, and School Transformation (813) 272-4876		Chief Business Officer (813) 272-4270
		B 6.27
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20190820_929 (Board Meeting) * Section B Item# 6.27