Hillsborough County Public Schools Business
Action Item

DATE: Tuesday, January 12, 2010
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Approve the Agreement for Technical Services for DKH Consulting Services, Inc. to Perform the Evaluation of the Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) (Information and Technology Division)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The major goals of the district's Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) is to correlate with the goals of the federal MSAP. These goals are to decrease desegregation and provide school choice, build capacity within proposed magnet programs and the district's magnet program, and increase academic achievement for all students. Recent surveys conducted by the Department of Assessment and Accountability regarding school choice indicate that parents and students overwhelmingly are most interested in academically rigorous magnet programs that will prepare students for successful post-secondary education.

Dr. Deidra Honeywell, the president of DKH Consulting, has worked extensively with the Pinellas County Public Schools in obtaining and winning grants and is knowledgeable about the process including curriculum integration. She is very well known in the state and in Washington, D.C. Dr. Honeywell conducted the Year 1 and 2 evaluations of the district's Magnet Schools Assistance Program.

Dr. Honeywell will design a timeline for data collection and an overall evaluation plan. She will conduct on-site visits to magnet schools and provide verbal feedback and written interim reports. The magnet schools include Blake High School, Dowdell Middle School, Ferrell Middle School, Hillsborough High School, Lennard High School, Leto High School, Lincoln Elementary School, Middleton High School, and Sligh Middle School. Dr. Honeywell will develop, process, and analyze data for teacher, parent, and student surveys. An Annual Performance Report will be prepared and disseminated to District personnel upon completion of the project. Dr. Honeywell will follow evaluation standards established by the Joint Committee on Standards for Education Evaluation adopted by the American Evaluation Association.

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

* Challenge and support all students with an appropriate curriculum

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

The total grant budget for Year 3 is $3,373,236. Of this amount, $60,000 has been designated for the evaluation of the program.

EVALUATION

An Annual Performance Report will be submitted at the end of the evaluation period.

SUBMITTED BY: Samuel R. Whitten, Assistant Director, Assessment and Accountability

David J. Steele, Ph.D.
Chief Information and Technology Office
813-272-4600
Gretchen Saunders
Chief Business Officer
813-272-4270
A 5.04
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20100112_390 * Section A Item# 5.04