B6.14 - Approve the Contract Between AMIkids Tampa, Inc. (AMIkids) and The School Board of Hillsborough County, Florida (Climate and Culture)

AMIkids will provide a program to address the needs of male students in Hillsborough County. The program works in conjunction with the Department of Juvenile Justice to provide an educational program and related services for eligible male students (up to 44 middle school aged male students). This program provides educational opportunities and effect positive behavior change that may include regular physical activities, and approved field trips and other extracurricular activities. The students will receive academic instruction and intervention, counseling, behavior therapy, and opportunities for career exploration.

AMIkids agrees to provide a 230-day instructional calendar or its hourly equivalent, 20 of which may be used for in-service training and planning in day treatment programs. Instruction will occur for a minimum of 150 minutes per week. AMIkids teachers will participate in district professional development.

Male youth with varying behavioral and academic needs who experience difficulty in the traditional setting are assigned to alternative education in lieu of expulsion. The district monitors the program and their interventions that yield positive results in the areas of academics, social behavior, and the number of students who successfully return to their home school.

In 2015, AMIkids provided a 230-day non-residential Department of Juvenile Justice/Dropout Prevention Program for 60 students who are assigned through the change of placement process or recommendation through court placement. 

• Improved student academic performance as a result of staff minimizing disruptions and effectively utilizing interventions to prevent challenging behaviors from occurring in the learning environment.
• Reduced disruptive student behavior as students will learn techniques to minimize triggers and environmental influences that results in their disruptive behavior.
• Increased student attendance for students assigned to AMIkids.
• Increased number of students positively engaged in schools, community, and vocational placements.

Upon exit from AMIkids an "Exit Portfolio" will be provided, containing, at a minimum, all the academic records of credits earned, entry/withdrawal information, grades in progress, schedule, individualized educational plan, assessments, examples of student work, and other agreed upon documents.

The District works closely with AMIkids to develop the whole child. In addition, the goal is to recoup credits that the student is deficient in and/or to strengthen curriculum deficiencies. Counseling and behavior therapy increases the likelihood of success for the students and their subsequent return to their zoned school.

* Improve the high school graduation rate

* Provide a student-centered learning environment that engages every child

* Develop, recognize, and reward employees

* Demonstrate "best practices" in all aspects of safety: student, employee, visitor, facility, transportation, and health

Approve the contract with AMIkids.

Tracye H. Brown, Chief of Climate and Culture, tracye.brown@sdhc.k12.fl.us, (813) 272-4879

The education services for this program are funded by full-time equivalency funds. This item is included in the general fund supplemental Academic Instruction budget, plus the applicable categorical funds minus 10 percent administrative cost allowed by Florida Law HB 1989.