Hillsborough County Public Schools Information and Technology
Action Item

DATE: Tuesday, February 27, 2007
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Approve Consultant Agreement with Susan Castleman to Assist with the Evaluation of the Professional Development for Music Educators Grant, Project #1125 (Information and Technology)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The purpose of the grant is to strengthen the standards-based arts education program. To maintain this focus, there are three interconnected activity strands: 1) develop high-quality, standards-based, ongoing professional development; 2) integrate arts and non-arts curriculum; and 3) design an assessment system that enables data-driven planning and professional development in the arts. The evaluator, Susan Castleman, is the Art Supervisor for Pinellas County Public Schools. Her duties will include, but not be limited to, designing an observation instrument for Art Teachers and gathering observation data to provide feedback, validating the instrument, supporting the principal investigator in providing the sections of the report pertaining to the design and results of the instrument, and communicating with the principal investigator prior to interim and final reports. The evaluation will involve 20 elementary schools (Alexander, Broward, Crestwood, Cypress Creek, Edison, Egypt Lake, Gibsonton, Graham, Just, Lanier, Mort, Oak Grove, Potter, Robles, Shaw, Sulphur Springs, Tampa Bay Boulevard, Town and Country, West Shore, and Wimauma) and 2 middle schools (Memorial and Van Buren). Approximately 20,000 students and 55 teachers in grades K-8 will participate.

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

District Goal 1: The district will eliminate the FCAT achievement gap by a minimum of 10 percentage points as reported by the No Child Left Behind (Critical Success Factor: 1.c). District Goal 2: The percentage of student scoring at Level 3 or higher on FCAT mathematics will increase a minimum of 5 percentage points (Critical Success Factor: 2.c). District Goal 3: Student performance on FCAT science will increase a minimum of 5 percentage points (Critical Success Factor: 3.c). District Goal 4: The percentage of students achieving a score of 4.0 or higher on FCAT Writing will increase a minimum of 5 percentage points (Critical Success Factor: 4.b).

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

The first year grant total is $349,994. The portion allotted for the evaluation in the first year is $40,000. This contract reflects $5,000 of this expense.

EVALUATION

Progress of the observations will be reported to the Principal Investigator in an interim report, and a final report of the results of observations will be submitted in June 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
5.03
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20070227_233 * Section E Item# 5.03