We request approval of the Agreement for Technical Services with Jan DeCamp, a professional scriptwriter and producer recommended by the Education Channel, to develop and produce a TV Democracy series.

The U.S. Department of Education awarded $2,040,147 to the district for Project ELECT (Educating Learners to Engage in Civics Today). The purpose of the program is to support activities to improve the quality of civic education through the implementation of comprehensive programs to improve public knowledge, understanding, and support of the United States Congress and the State legislatures.

Ms. DeCamp will write and format 12 scripts for a series of 12 episodes and develop a TV Democracy series for Project ELECT. The TV series, produced by Florida-Regional Community Policing Institute, will be aired by The Education Channel; DVD's will be reproduced from the series and distributed to teachers as an instructional tool for classroom implementation and support. The series will be applicable to, but not be limited to, courses such as American Government, US/American History, World History, and Economics. Ms. DeCamp will work with two district social studies teachers with expertise in middle and secondary curriculum/content and appropriate teaching strategies to create the series. She will meet with teachers at the Education Channel Studio, after regular teaching hours, to review the materials and content of the various social studies courses.

The TV series will allow students to see their elected officials addressing issues of democracy, civic engagement, and responsible citizenship. Former Florida State Senator Les Miller will moderate the series. The Federal Department of Education plans to reproduce the DVD’s for distribution nationwide.

Goal 1 - The percentage of students scoring at Level 3 or higher on FCAT reading will increase a minimum of five percentage points.

Funds of $15,000 are available through the Competition to Improve Public Knowledge of Support for Democracy, Project ELECT grant, Project 1025.

This Project ELECT component will be included in the overall evaluation report completed by the University of South Florida and will be provided to the school district in July 2009.