The major goals of the Hillsborough County Public Schools Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) is to correlate with the purpose of the federal MSAP. These goals are to decrease desegregation and provide school choice, build capacity within proposed magnet programs and the District's magnet program, and to increase academic achievement for all students. Recent surveys conducted by the Department of Assessment and Accountability regarding school choice indicate that parents and students overwhelmingly are most interested in academically rigorous magnet programs that will prepare students for successful post-secondary education.

DKH Consulting Services, Inc. will conduct the evaluation of the program. DKH Consulting Services, Inc. (specifically, Dr. Deidra Honeywell) has worked extensively with the Pinellas County Public Schools in obtaining and winning grants and is knowledgeable about the process including curriculum integration. She is very well known in the state and in Washington, D.C. Additionally, Dr. Honeywell conducted the Year 1 evaluation of the District's Magnet Schools Assistance Program.

Dr. Honeywell will design a timeline for data collection and an overall evaluation plan. She will conduct on-site visits to provide verbal feedback and written interim reports for fall, winter, and spring. Dr. Honeywell will develop, process, and analyze teacher, parent, and student surveys. An Annual Performance Report will be prepared and disseminated to district personnel upon completion of the project. Magnet programs at the following schools will be included in the evaluation: Blake High School, Dowdell Middle School, Ferrell Middle School, Hillsborough High School, Lennard High School, Leto High School, Lincoln Elementary School, Middleton High School, and Sligh Middle School.