Hillsborough County Public Schools Information and Technology
Action Item

DATE: Thursday, November 9, 2006
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Approve Consultant Agreement with Jan Schwartz, Ph.D., to Assist with the Evaluation of the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) Grant (Information and Technology Division)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The consultant will assist with the evaluation of the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) grant that deals with utilization of laptops and Palm handheld devices. EETT is designed to utilize laptops and Palm handheld devices, for use at school and home to transform the learning environment. A variety of tool-based software will be employed to meet project goals and objectives. All stakeholders – school administrators, teachers, students, and parents - will have access to available technologies at school and at home, and will receive intensive training to support technology use. There are six schools, Robinson High, Madison Middle, Potter Elementary, West Tampa Elementary, Bing Elementary, and Village of Excellence Charter School. The number of students are 150 per high and middle schools, 50 per elementary schools, and 40 students for charter. The consultant's duties will include, but not be limited to: documenting the updating of the EETT website, collecting data documented in Goals and Objectives tables, conducting observations, developing data collection instruments (i.e., surveys), documenting staff development, coordinating activities with the University for North Florida evaluation team, attending conferences, responding to state-level evaluation requests with district liaison, writing status reports and an annual report no later than September 30, 2007.

ANNUAL DISTRICT GOAL(S) AND CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S)

Goal 1: The percent of students scoring at level 3 or higher on FCAT Reading will increase a minimum of 5 percentage points (CSF 1a - Assign high performing teachers to teach students performing below grade level; 1b - Implement interventions for students below grade level, on grade level, and above grade level.

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

The EETT budget is $1,012,723. The evaluation budget is $45,000. This contract is for $15,000 funded by the enhancing Education Through Technology Grant (EETT), Project 1057.

EVALUATION

Final evaluation report due September 2007.

SUBMITTED BY: John Hilderbrand, Ph.D., Director, Assessment and Accountability

Jack E. Davis
Chief Information and Technology Officer
813-272-4600
Gretchen Saunders
Chief Business Officer
813-272-4270
5.10
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20061109_225 * Section E Item# 5.10