Approve $69,914 Payment to the University of South Florida for Services Associated with Their Partnership in Hillsborough County Public Schools Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) Grant, (Project #U165A070059) (Student Services and Federal Programs Division)

The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) awarded $9,598,710 to Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) for the District’s (MSAP) grant project The purpose of the program is to support magnet schools that are part of an approved desegregation plan. The awarded amount for year one of the three-year project is $3,120,638. Of this total amount, $69,914 is for project services rendered by the University of South Florida (USF). Faculty and staff from USF College of Education’s Anchin Center, through the Tampa Bay Educational Partnership, a formal partnership between the District and the University, are providing training in culturally competent classroom and school site leadership to assist teachers and administrators in gaining the specialized skills necessary to be effective leaders and instructors at diverse schools. Training topics include: 1) creating and fostering a “learning culture” in the school and community, 2) using achievement data to eliminate cycles of academic failure, 3) fostering innovation, accountability, and results in the classroom, and 4) effectively communicating the value that individual schools bring to the community. Year one of the project began October 1, 2007, and ends September 30, 2008.

GOAL 6 - All schools in the District will be assigned a state grade of A, B, or C (accomplish goals and critical success factors for goals 1-5).

Funding for this project is provided by U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) grant, (Project #U165A070059). HCPS is the grant’s fiscal agent, and project funds reside with the District.

Under the terms of the grant, HCPS is responsible for project evaluation. Copies of the annual reports and final evaluation report will be provided to HCPS Office of Assessment and Accountability. The anticipated date for the annual report for year one is December 30, 2008.