Approve the Technical Service Agreement Ophelia Project and Boy’s Initiative Inc. and Dowdell Middle Magnet School to Provide Students With the Gender Specific Program Called RISE (Revealing Inner Strengths Through Empowerment) (Student Services and Federal Programs Division)

The Ophelia Project and Boy’s Initiative of Tampa Bay will provide the gender-specific program called RISE. The overall goal of this unique program is to give all 6th grade boys and girls the interpersonal skills and opportunities for them to be successful inside and outside the classroom. For approximately two weeks, each 6th grader will experience RISE as one of their wheel classes. Each student will have the opportunity to gain skills and acquire knowledge that will guide them in dealing with issues such as resiliency, self-esteem, relationships with peers, conflict resolution, education, diversity, mass media, future planning, leadership, and community service. Parents will be required to give permission for their child to participate in the RISE program.

Goal 5 - The District will eliminate the FCAT achievement gap by a minimum of 10 percentage points as reported by No Child Left Behind.

This Technical Service Agreement will be paid from Dowdell Middle School’s Title I funds in the amount of $8,376.

In order to determine the effectiveness of the Ophelia Project and Boy’s Initiative, a portfolio assessment will be done for each student participating. These student created portfolios will contain observations, writing activities, and summaries of individual conferences held with students. Portfolios will be available to parents and 6th grade teachers. Each portfolio will be evaluated to determine the impact of this initiative on a student’s resiliency, self esteem, peer relationships, conflict resolution, academic achievement, leadership and community service.