Approve the Partnership Agreement Between Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) and the College of Education, St. Petersburg College, as Part of the Paraprofessional Transition to Teaching Program, CFDA# 84.350 (Student Services and Federal Programs Division)

The United States Department of Education (USDOE) awarded a no cost extension to HCPS for the Transition to Teaching federally grant funded project. This no cost extension will be implemented between October 1, 2009, and September 30, 2010, and will provide the baccalaureate-earning teacher-training program to paraprofessionals currently working for HCPS. Under the partnership agreement, HCPS will provide scholarships for paraprofessional teacher training, training sites, computer lab access, internship placement opportunities for participants, clinical education training for supervising teachers, salary and benefits for the Project Director, course credit reimbursements to participants, and evaluation data as needed. The College of Education, St. Petersburg College, will provide the paraprofessionals financial aid officers to assist with applying for financial aid, coursework and instructors for the B.S. degree program at sites designated by HCPS at a time after normal school work hours, and access to the College of Education Student Commons interactive website. To date, six students have graduated from the program (four employed by HCPS and two employed by local charter schools), eight students are interning in the spring of 2010, and will graduate in the spring/summer of 2010, nine students will graduate in spring of 2011, and approximately 30 paraprofessionals are scheduled to graduate by spring 2014.

Funding for this project is provided by the USDOE. HCPS is the grant’s fiscal agent and project funds reside with the district.

Under the terms of the grant, HCPS is responsible for project evaluation. A copy of the annual reports and final evaluation report will be provided to HCPS Office of Assessment and Accountability. The anticipated date for the annual report is December 30, 2010.