Leadership, Professional Development, and School Transformation Action Item

DATE:	Tuesday, September 10, 2019
TO:	School Board Members
FROM:	Jeff Eakins, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve the Agreement for Technical Services #19149-ATS-IV with University of Virginia (UVA) Darden/Curry Partnership for Leaders in Education (PLE) (Leadership, Professional Development, and School Transformation)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The contract with UVA/PLE is funded through the federal Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program (TSLIP) grant. UVA/PLE is a national leader in school turn around.  They are a world-class organization that prepares education leaders to cultivate systemic change that transforms school communities and yields remarkable student achievement.  UVA/PLE is supporting the development of a district leadership team and nine principals from the schools participating in the partnership.  In the first year (2018/2019), a district readiness assessment was completed and the partnership was launched by attendance at a District Boot Camp followed by a site visit for planning next steps.  District staff and school principals also attended an intense week of learning, planning, and collaboration on the topics of:  narrating the story, systems design and results, leadership systems, root cause analysis, leading organizational change successfully, data informed decision making, becoming a learning organization, creating ninety day plans and developing common commitments, communicating your vision. This contract will support continued learning throughout the 2019/2020 school year.  Support will include on-site visits with debriefs, spring professional learning retreat with principals and teacher leaders, ongoing support for principal supervisors and district leaders, District Shepherd Summit, feedback on school and district 90-day plans for both fall and spring, and E-consulting and tools.
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 $391,500 will be available in the TSLIP Grant. For tracking purposes, the project number specific to this agenda item is 3742.
EVALUATION
UVA/PLE has worked with a large number of districts across the country, helping them turn around their lowest performing schools. An annual report shows that 75 percent of participating districts, and schools, closed the proficiency gap with top state performers. All schools supported by UVA made larger gains than comparable schools on state assessments. Reading proficiency increased an average of 33 percent and mathematics an average of 37 percent in the same schools. The effectiveness of the UVA and Hillsborough County Public Schools partnership will be measured by the improvement in school grades of nine participating schools and major increases in learning gains and proficiency scores on the Florida Standards Assessment. Sustainability of district systems and practices for supporting chronically underperforming schools will also be part of the overall evaluation.
SUBMITTED BY:

Tricia McManus		Gretchen Saunders
Assistant Superintendent, Leadership, Professional Development, and School Transformation (813) 272-4876		Chief Business Officer (813) 272-4270
		B 6.20
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20190910_930 (Board Meeting followed by Public Hearing) * Section B Item# 6.20