Hillsborough County Public Schools Business
Action Item

DATE: Tuesday, August 31, 2010
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Approve Renewal Memorandum of Agreement with the Children's Board of Hillsborough County for the Family and School Support Team (FASST) Project, 2010/2011 (Student Services and Federal Programs Division)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Since 1993, the District (HCPS) has partnered with the Children's Board of Hillsborough County to provide prevention and early intervention services to children and families in elementary schools and for a districtwide early childhood screening service. The Children's Board provides approximately $4 million for FASST services in Hillsborough County. Every elementary school in the district has access to FASST services. This project serves schools by means of wrap-around teams that function with a system of core values and principles that are flexible, individualized, child centered, family focused, and culturally competent.

During the 2009/2010 school year, school-based FASST Teams served over 864 students and families. The outcomes of students participating are:

  • 83% of school-aged students improved or maintained their level in reading, writing, or arithmetic.
  • 90% of school-aged students demonstrated improved behavior.
  • 93% of pre-kindergarten and school-aged families who complete FASST report effective coordination of services.
  • 84% of pre-kindergarten and school-aged students have demonstrated improvement in their condition.
  • ANNUAL DISTRICT GOAL(S) AND CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S)

    * Increase promotion rates at all grade levels and the percentage of high school graduates

    FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

    Funds of $160,000 are included in the general operating budget.

    EVALUATION

    The FASST Teams are engaged in an Empowerment Evaluation (EE) process. There is collaboration among many stakeholders. These stakeholders include staff from the Children's Board, the School district, the four primary agency partners, and community participants. Quarterly meetings provide the opportunity for stakeholders to review collected outcome data, continuously evaluate the effectiveness of programming, and make recommendations for improvement. There is also on-going communication among the stakeholders.

    All of the Children's Board outcome data is generated and monitored via the EE process and tracked on an EE Matrix (tool for the EE process). The information is entered into cscForce, a Children's Board database, and outcome data is updated in real time. Currently FASST has six contracted outcomes.

    SUBMITTED BY: Ken Gaughan, Supervisor, School Social Work Services

    Gwendolyn L. Luney, Assistant Superintendent
    Student Services and Federal Programs
    (813) 272-4879
    Gretchen Saunders
    Chief Business Officer
    (813) 272-4270
    A 5.14
    Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20100831_418 * Section A Item# 5.14