School Board Agenda Item

We request approval to submit a continuation grant application to the Florida Department of Education for English Literacy and Civics Education programs for supplemental, performance-based funding in the amount of $206,891 to enhance, improve, and expand the delivery system of educational services to adults 16 years of age and older. The purpose of the funding is to assist adults who wish to learn to read, write, and speak English as a second language; who seek adult basic and adult literacy education; who desire to complete a secondary school education or its equivalent (GED); who wish to benefit from job training and retraining programs; who wish to obtain and retain productive employment; and who wish to participate more fully in the educational development of their children. The targeted population to benefit from requested funding will include: educationally disadvantaged adults, under-educated adults, immigrant adults including migrant farmworkers, limited English proficient adults, adults and children participating in family literacy, adults in the workplace, minority adults, adults with disabilities, and institutionalized, incarcerated, and/or homeless adults.

Supplemental funds will expand an integrated program of services that incorporates both English and civics education into the curriculum and support and enhance the integration of reading and adult basic literacy skills into classroom instruction supporting the district's strategic goals and the statewide initiative "Just Read, Florida!". Program participants will not only be provided with basic academic instruction, but will be able to understand and navigate governmental, educational, workplace systems, and key institutions such as banking and health care. Funding will also be used to enhance the adult education program by providing classes and supportive services to qualifying adult students seeking a certificate of U.S. Naturalized Citizenship or a voter registration card. Supportive services will also include activities to increase students’ involvement in the community and their involvement in the education of dependent children.

Grant funds will be used to enhance the department's Adult English Literacy and Civics Education program through the employment of a full-time resource teacher and a part-time resource teacher and classroom paraprofessional. Grant staff will provide instructional support services to improve delivery of instruction into the classroom, increase learning opportunities for the targeted population, coordinate grant supportive services and activities, and perform grant-related tasks. Grant funds will also be used to facilitate implementation of customized curriculum materials, classroom resources, educational software, computer equipment, and the delivery of professional development training for adult education teachers/practitioners. Two School Board-approved collaborative agreements with SERVE, Inc. and Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg will continue upon project approval to enhance instructional delivery and attainment of program objectives. SERVE, Inc. will collaborate with the Department of Adult and Community Education to recruit, train and place literacy volunteers into adult education classrooms. Catholic Charities will provide selected family literacy and life skills training sessions for participating adult students.

For the past several years, the Department of Adult and Community Education has successfully implemented the Adult Education and Family Literacy, English Literacy, and Civics Education Project, increasing performance outcomes for the district and exceeding project goals each year. During the 2006/2007 school year, performance measures reported for the Adult General Education project included 750 Literacy Completion Points and 30 adult students placed into career/technical training and employment. For the current project period (2007/2008), the Department of Adult and Community Education has successfully met performance outcomes to date and anticipates exceeding project goals for the year.

Elsa A. Tuggle Director, Adult and Community Education (813) 740-7762	Michael A. Grego, Ed.D. Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum and Instruction (813) 272-4221
A 1.02d
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20080610_330 * Section A Item# 1.02d