Approve $64,479 payment to Florida Center for Research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (FCR-STEM) As Required by Florida Department of Education for Services Associated with State Mathematics and Science Partnerships Grant, Project #290-2357A-7CF01(Student Services and Federal Programs Division)

The Florida Department of Education awarded $1,294,980 to Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) to implement the Mathematics and Science Partnership grant (Project Collaborative Leaders Achieving Science Success – CLASS), which promotes exemplary Science instruction across all grade levels at eight targeted schools (see attachment). A requirement of the project is the payment of $64,479, 5% of the total awarded amount, to FCR-STEM to coordinate project evaluation statewide. The one year project began June 1, 2007, and ends August 31, 2008.

Goal 3 - Students performance on FCAT science will increase a minimum of five percentage points.

Funding for this project is provided by the Florida Department of Education, Project #290-2357A-7CF01. HCPS is the grant’s fiscal agent and project funds reside with the district.

Under the terms of the grant, USF will evaluate the HCPS project, while FCR-STEM will provide technical assistance to the HCPS evaluator as needed and will coordinate the statewide project evaluation. Copies of the final evaluation report will be provided to HCPS’s office of Assessment and Accountability. The anticipated date for the final evaluation is December 1, 2008.