Hillsborough County Public Schools Curriculum and Instruction
Information Item

DATE: Tuesday, March 10, 2009
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Just Read, Florida! Reading Initiative (Curriculum and Instruction Division)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Initiative: Just Read, Florida!, as part of their expansion efforts of the Florida Reading Initiative, established a partnership with Hillsborough County Public Schools and the North East Florida Educational Consortium during the 2008/2009 school year. The initiative is focused on literacy practices in all classrooms because every subject is founded on the student’s ability to understand the content.

Goals: The short-term goal of this initiative is to sharpen the focus of the District, school, and community on literacy and its importance in our students’ lives. The long-term goal is for students to own and use specific literacy strategies in their lifelong learning.

Targeted Population: Schools in a geographic pattern where significant numbers of students will feed from one site to the next are the targeted sites. Jefferson High School, Madison Middle School, West Tampa Elementary School, and Just Elementary School are the pilot sites for 2008/2009.

Timeline: Participating school sites were initially introduced to the Florida Reading Initiative during the 2007/2008 school year. The faculty, administration, and paraprofessionals at all four sites attended a two-week summer academy held in July 2008. The North East Florida Educational Consortium, district-level personnel, and site-based personnel are conducting current follow-up at all school sites.

Staff Development: The schools participated in leadership team workshops during the 2007/2008 school year. Eighty percent of each of the four sites’ faculty attended a two-week summer academy held at Jefferson High School along with an on-line course. Since the academy, Florida Reading Initiative representatives from the North East Florida Educational Consortium have supported teachers, coaches, and administrators through web-based instruction and meetings, classroom walkthroughs, and coach support conferences.

Continued on attachment.

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

* Increase promotion rates at all grade levels and the percentage of high school graduates, * Demonstrate consistent and effective teaching methods, * Motivate students to become responsible learners, * Challenge and support all students with an appropriate curriculum, * Recruit, develop, and retain a highly effective, diverse workforce, * Align the performance management system with the district’s priorities, * Align financial resources to support the district’s strategic goals

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

Funds are included in the Florida Comprehensive Reading Plan – Project 4526

EVALUATION

SUBMITTED BY: Lynn Dougherty-Underwood, Supervisor, 6-12 Reading

Denny B. Oest
General Director, Secondary Education
(813) 272-4451
Wynne A. Tye
Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum and Instruction
(813) 272-4221
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Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20090310_345 * Section B Item# 01