Hillsborough County Public Schools Information and Technology
Action Item

DATE: Tuesday, February 19, 2008
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Approve the Technical Services Agreement for Dr. Mariann Schmudde to Perform the Duties Associated with the Evaluation of Year 4 of the Transition to Teaching Grant, Project #1374 (Information and Technology Division)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Transition to Teaching Project focuses on support of eligible paraprofessionals in the pursuit of a Bachelor's Degree and full certification. The project also recruits, trains, and supports mid-career professionals and recent college graduates in the pursuit of full teacher certification. Additionally, the project trains and supports teachers participating in the Alternative Certification Program (ACP) and places and retains highly qualified teachers in targeted high-needs schools. Participation in Year 4 of the project will include approximately 600 ACP and paraprofessionals located primarily in Title 1 Schools. Copies of evaluations for the years 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 can be found on the District's web-page for the Department of Assessment and Accountability.

The consultant will perform Year 4 evaluation duties as outlined in the Transition to Teaching Project. Duties of the evaluator will include, but not be limited to: 1) reviewing feedback from the Year 3 evaluation and making program adjustments as indicated by the data; reviewing and revising, as needed, the Year 4 Evaluation Plan; implementing the Phase I Input/Process Evaluation, the Phase II Immediate Outcome Evaluation, the Phase III Implementation/Utilization Evaluation, and the Phase IV Impact Evaluation for Year 4. The contractor will review all instrumentation and will evaluate the achievement data of students. A comprehensive interim report of the Year 4 evaluation will be disseminated by the designated date provided by the Grantor. Additionally, both a draft and final report will be disseminated to the Program Manager and the Department of Assessment and Accountability.

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

Goal 5: The District will eliminate the FACT achievement gap by a minimum of ten percentage points as reported by No Child Left Behind. Critical Success Factor 5a: Recruit and retain high-performing teachers to teach students who are achieving below grade level or with special needs.

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

A total of $1,999,982 has been awarded for this grant. Of this amount, $75,000 was to be utilized for evaluation purposes. The sum of $15,000 is being budgeted for the Year 4 evaluation.

EVALUATION

The final report of the Year 4 evaluation will be the evaluation of the project.

SUBMITTED BY: John A. Hilderbrand, Director, Assessment and Accountability

Jack E. Davis
Chief Information and Technology Officer
(813) 272-4600
Gretchen Saunders
Chief Business Officer
(813) 272-4270
A 5.11
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20080219_288 * Section A Item# 5.11