Hillsborough County Public Schools Curriculum and Instruction
Action Item

DATE: Tuesday, June 10, 2008
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Approve Continuation Grant Application to the Florida Department of Education, and if Approved, Accept Funds for ADULT EDUCATION AND FAMILY LITERACY, ADULT GENERAL EDUCATION (Previously Adult Geographical Grant), 2008/2009 - $1,197,190 (Adult and Community Education)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

We request approval to submit a continuation grant application to the Florida Department of Education for Adult General Education programs for supplemental, performance-based funding in the amount of $1,197,190 to enhance, improve, and expand the delivery system of educational services for adults 16 years of age and older. The purpose of the funding is to assist adults who desire to complete a secondary education diploma or its equivalent (GED), who seek to benefit from job training and retraining programs, who seek to obtain and retain productive employment, who wish to participate more fully in the educational development of their children, or those who wish to learn to read, write, and speak English as a second language. The targeted population to benefit from requested funding will include: educationally disadvantaged adults, under-educated adults, immigrant adults including migrant farm workers, 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 support and enhance the integration of reading and adult basic literacy skills into classroom instruction and teacher inservice training supporting the district’s strategic goals and the statewide initiative “Just Read Florida!”. Grant funds will be used to supplement the district’s Adult Education and Family Literacy programs through the employment of resource teachers and paraprofessionals who will enhance the instructional delivery and learning opportunities for the targeted population and provide inservice training for adult education instructors. Funds will also be used to fund a portion of the salary of an accounting clerk to manage the grant budget. Instructional materials purchased with supplemental funds will include textbooks, teaching materials, classroom resources, educational software, computer equipment, and online GED curriculum. Funds will also be used to provide county bus passes for travel to classes and GED testing sites for students with transportation and/or financial hardships.

Grant funds will be awarded to applicants who demonstrate the ability to provide extensive services that are underwritten by strong partnerships capable of effectively meeting three core measures: 1) educational gains or Literacy Completion Points (LCPs); 2) placements into postsecondary educational programs or unsubsidized employment; and 3) receipt of a high school diploma or its equivalent (GED). Through School Board-approved collaborative agreements, the Department of Adult and Community Education has strong cooperative partnerships capable of meeting the three core measures as follows: Hillsborough Community College will provide adult education services to adult students and will facilitate the placement of adult learners into postsecondary educational settings, including the district’s career/technical programs, and into appropriate college programs; Hillsborough County Workforce Board, Inc., will facilitate the placement of adult learners into unsubsidized employment. The Department of Adult and Community Education, with its proven track record and intensive academic program, will be responsible for the completion and documentation of Literacy Completion Points (LCPs) and the issuing of the high school diploma or its equivalent (GED).

For the past several years, the Department of Adult and Community Education has successfully implemented the Adult Education and Family Literacy Adult General 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 5,759 Literacy Completion Points, 160 adult students placed into career/technical training and employment, and 630 adult students who earned a State of Florida High School Diploma (GED). 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.

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

All District Goals and Critical Success Factors

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

If approved, grant funds of $1,197,190 will be included in the divisional special revenue/federal programs budget. All direct and indirect costs are included in the grant budget.

EVALUATION

Evaluation measures required by the grant are determined by the Florida Department of Education. The annual state performance report will be completed in October 2009 and shared with all stakeholders.

SUBMITTED BY: Karine E. Johns, Supervisor, Adult Education

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 1.02e
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20080610_330 * Section A Item# 1.02e