Approve Authorized Partner Contract Between Certification Partners, LLC and The School District of Hillsborough County, Florida to Provide Certification Testing for Web Design Teachers and Students (Career and Technical Education)

We request approval for this contract to provide certification testing for Web Design students in Hillsborough County Public Schools. This contract establishes a Certified Testing Center in Hillsborough County, in which students will be able to take the Certified Internet Web (CIW) Professional Certification tests. These certification tests are recognized by industry, and provide students with a marketable skill to take to the workforce. In addition, these industry certification tests are a required component of Career Academies as outlined in Florida’s Career and Professional Education (CAPE) legislation. Students successfully earning industry certifications generate weighted FTE funding back to the Career and Technical Education programs where the student is enrolled and where the industry certifications are earned. Industry certifications are to be included in the calculation of school grades.

* Increase promotion rates at all grade levels and the percentage of high school graduates, * Challenge and support all students with an appropriate curriculum

Funding for these certification tests will eventually be self-sustaining, as earned certifications will generate weighted FTE to be used to pay for future student certification preparation and testing fees. Funds from the Federal Carl D. Perkins Grant will also be used to pay for student’s certification fees. There will be no additional cost to the district.