Approve Grant Application to the Florida Department of Education and, if Approved, Accept Funds for Farmworkers Jobs and Education Program, 2009/2010 (Curriculum and Instruction Division)

We request approval to submit a grant application to the Florida Department of Education for the Farmworkers Jobs and Education Program to continue serving individuals in the agricultural industry, who suffer from chronic seasonal unemployment and underemployment. The Farmworkers Jobs and Education Program is designed to strengthen the ability of eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents to achieve economic self-sufficiency by obtaining employment or stabilizing their agricultural employment. The funding period for this supplemental grant is from July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010.

The Farmworkers Jobs and Education Program targets farmworkers who have the following barriers to employment and are considered “hard-to-serve”: 1) English, reading, and math levels less than ninth grade; 2) school dropout; 3) limited English proficiency; 4) handicapped; 5) lacks work history; 6) long-term agricultural employment; 7) single, head of household with dependent child; 8) adjudicated offender; 9) pregnant/parenting youth; 10) history of substance abuse; and 11) lacks transportation. The primary goals of the district’s Farmworkers Jobs and Education Project are to enable farmworkers and/or their dependents to obtain and retain full-time employment; to allow participation in other program activities leading to their eventual placement in unsubsidized employment; to allow activities leading to stabilization in agricultural employment; and to include related assistance and supportive services.

Continued on attachment.

If approved, grant funds of $341,714 will be included in the divisional special revenue/federal programs budget. All direct and indirect costs are included in the grant budget.

Evaluation measures required by the grant are determined by the Florida Department of Education. The annual state performance report will be completed in October 2010 and shared with all stakeholders.