Approve Agreement for Technical Services with Performance Learning Systems, Inc. for the Dr. Kevin McCarthy Accomplished Teaching Academy, June 8-9, 2006, $7,000 (Curriculum and Instruction Division)

An Agreement for Technical Services has been developed for the services of Stephen Barkley to design, develop, and train high performing teachers through the Accomplished Teaching Academy. The Accomplished Teaching Academy will be conducted on June 5-9, 2006, (for returning teachers from June 5, 2006 – Cadre III), and June 6-9, 2006, (for a new cadre of teachers – Cadre IV.) Mr. Barkley previously trained Cadre III teachers, who will return for one day to receive an update on current trends and techniques, and revisit information from the 2005 Academy.

Mr. Barkley will begin a new session for Cadre IV and present Building Professional Learning Communities on June 8, 2006, and Knowledge of Subject Matter on June 9, 2006. Participants will develop action plans for improving student achievement that will be implemented during the 2006-2007 school year. Approximately 300 teachers will benefit from Mr. Barkley’s services. These plans and their implementation will be shared with other teachers during the first day of the Accomplished Teaching Academy in June 2007.

Goal 5 - The district will close the FCAT achievement gap by a minimum of 10 percentage points as reported by No Child Left Behind.

Funds of $7,000 are included in the Division of Student Services and Federal Programs Title II budget (Project 1080.) Funds cover the cost of training and materials for 300 K-12 teachers.

October 2006. Teachers are surveyed to collect qualitative and quantitative data about the sessions they attend to capture relevant information about each day's activities. The survey results are presented in a report each October following the professional development experience.