Approve the Agreement for Technical Services with Multi-Dimensional Education, Inc. (MDED) for the Evaluation of the Responsible Engaged Students Promoting Empathy, Caring, and Trust (RESPECT) Project (Information and Technology)

Project RESPECT seeks to implement a character education program at 40 elementary schools that is integrated into classroom instruction and carried out in conjunction with current education reform efforts. RESPECT integrates a research-based character education program, Too Good for Violence, with the elementary school reading curriculum, based on the state and federal Reading First reform initiative. The program promotes eight core character traits: caring, cooperation, courage, fairness, honesty, respect, responsibility, and self-discipline. Students learn and reinforce positive character traits as they participate in reading content instruction, thereby improving their academic achievement in reading and their pro-social skills at the same time.

The partners of Multi-Dimensional Education, Inc., Dr. Michael Corrigan and Dr. Douglas Grove, are internationally recognized for their expertise in education and assessment. Together they have evaluated a number of large longitudinal U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) grants, as well as managing research efforts funded through the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Justice. They are professors at the college level (education leadership, research methods, child development, and educational psychology) and former teachers and administrators. A detailed description of their professional qualifications is attached.

The funding agency for this grant requires a rigorous evaluation that utilizes valid and reliable instruments to statistically measure the impact of participation in the program versus the comparison group. MDED will utilize their sole-source evaluation instrument (Multi-Dimensional Assessment) that meets this requirement at a substantially reduced per student cost as part of this grant evaluation. The requirements of the evaluator include, but are not limited to, the following: securing USDOE Required Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval of valid and reliable research instruments; collecting and analyzing formative and summative data on variables related to character education, attendance, discipline, and student achievement; and providing each school with an annual report highlighting the status of the level and quality of character education taking place in each school. A detailed timeline and budget outline can be found on pages 1(a) and 1(b)of the Agreement for Technical Services.

The schools involved in the RESPECT project include the following elementary schools: Alexander, Bing, Bryan, Burney, Cahoon, Chiaramonte, Clair-Mel, Davis, DeSoto, Dover, Edison, Egypt Lake, Forest Hills, Graham, Jackson, James, Kenly, Kimbell, Lanier, Lockhart, Mango, Mendenhall, Miles, MOSI Partnership, Oak Grove, Oak Park, Palm River, Potter, Reddick, Riverhills, Tampa Bay Boulevard, Thonotosassa, Trapnell, Twin Lakes, USF/Patel, B.T.Washington, West Shore, West Tampa, Wilson, Witter.

* Motivate students to become responsible learners, * Challenge and support all students with an appropriate curriculum

Of the $435,911 awarded for this project, $84,885 has been allocated for the rigorous evaluation required by the funding agency.

An annual evaluation report as required by the USDOE will be submitted to the USDOE, the Department of Assessment and Accountability, and the Hillsborough County Public Schools.