Hillsborough County Public Schools Information and Technology
Action Item

DATE: Tuesday, July 17, 2007
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Approve Consultant Agreement with Dr. Tina Bacon to Carry Out the Duties Associated with Year Four of the Teach American History Grant (Information and Technology Division)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Under the guidelines of the Teach American History Grant, a rigorous evaluation is to be performed over a four-year period. The Teaching American History grant is a professional development initiative funded through the United States Department of Education (USDOE). Primary reporting responsibility is to the USDOE. Reporting is annual (due October 31 using federal forms 524b and entered online through USDOE e-reporting). Reporting and evaluation activities are performed for elementary, middle, and secondary supervisors of social studies through the Division of Curriculum and Instruction. Dr. Tina Bacon conducted the year one, two and three evaluations of the program and is being asked to conduct the evaluation for the fourth and final year of the project. Across the prior three years, teachers from 130 elementary, 41 middle and 9 high schools have participated in grant activities. One-third of the district schools will be impacted through teacher participation the fourth year. Approximately 5,000 students will participate. Duties of the evaluator will include providing ongoing feedback for year four of the project's initiatives on teachers' content knowledge and classroom instruction strategies. Dr. Bacon will assist in the creation of staff support and reinforcement infrastructure to promote coaching and learning. She will also observe classrooms, review teacher reflections and will participate in the creation of the History content exam and will assist in the development of other assessment procedures. Dr. Bacon will collect and analyze data. A final written report will be submitted detailing the findings of the four-year evaluation.

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

The District will close the FCAT achievement gap by a minimum of 10% as reported by No Child Left Behind. CSF-d: Provide staff development programs that match instructional delivery strategies with diverse student achievement needs.

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

The fourth year and final year expense will be $18,278.36 including fringe benefits and is funded through the Teach American History Grant #0705. The total evaluation budget for the previous three years was $51,000.

EVALUATION

The final reporting of data gathered and analyzed will be June 30, 2008.

SUBMITTED BY: Grace L. Albritton, Supervisor of Evaluation

Jack E. Davis
Chief Information and Technology Officer
813-272-4600
Gretchen Saunders
Chief Business Officer
813-272-4270
5.05
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20070717_261 * Section E Item# 5.05