HCPS FL Logo Information and Technology
Action Item
DATE: Tuesday, January 18, 2011
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve the Agreement for Technical Services with Bruce Anthony Jones for the External Evaluation of the Teacher Quality Improving Networks for Valid and Effective Standards Training (INVEST) Project (Information and Technology Division)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The INVEST Project  is a collaboration between two high-needs Local Education Agencies that include the Hillsborough County Public Schools and the District School Board of Pasco County, and one institute of higher education (the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of South Florida).  INVEST provides teachers in language arts and social studies with in-depth content knowledge and pedagogy training in the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS).  The purpose of INVEST is to provide teachers access to research-based professional development addressing NGSSS.  The project is framed by two broad goals.  Goal 1 is to develop an intensive and sustained instructional format that focuses on the learning and teaching of NGSSS concepts using an activity-based, problem-solving approach and systematically incorporating a follow-up component to sustain change in teachers'/participants' classroom practices.  Goal 2 is to base all professional development and technical assistance in scientifically-based research to increase student achievement and teacher knowledge.

Project funding requires an external evaluation component.  Dr. Bruce Anthony Jones has been asked to perform this evaluation procedure.  Dr. Jones is the Director of the David C. Anchin Research Center and is the Associate Dean for Research at the University of South Florida. 

Dr. Jones' duties will include, but not be limited to, developing and deploying a follow-up survey instrument in cooperation with project INVEST personnel.  He will provide updates on the February 2011 Reporting on Summer 2010 training or additions to the July 2010 report and an analysis of survey data.  Dr. Jones will prepare and review instruments with the project director to cover instructional or pedagogical content, the training experience itself, and content-based knowledge gains.  A pre-post survey will be given to teachers during the training period in June 2011.  A final report in July 2011, will be submitted with information from surveys and training materials and will include teacher enrollment and other data required by the project.  Dr. Jones will follow the evaluation standards established by the Joint Committee on Standards for Education Evaluation adopted by the American Evaluation Association.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• Recruit, develop, and retain a highly effective, diverse workforce
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  Yes)
Of the $454,384 granted for this project, $35,000 has been allocated for the external evaluation of this project.
EVALUATION
A final report in July 2011 will be submitted.
SUBMITTED BY:  Samuel R. Whitten, Assistant Director, Assessment and Accountability
David J. Steele, Ph.D.   Gretchen Saunders
Chief Information and Technology Officer and Project Director, Empowering Effective Teachers Grant
(813) 272-4600
  Chief Business Officer
(813) 272-4270
    A 5.15
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20110118_451 (Board Meeting) * Section A Item# 5.15