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Information Item
DATE: Tuesday, March 27, 2012
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent
TEACHING AND LEARNING PRESENTATION
Middleton Magnet High School and the University of South Florida College of Engineering Dual-Enrollment Partnership (Student Services and Federal Programs Division)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Initiative: In January of 2011, Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) in partnership with the University of South Florida (USF) College of Engineering, launched a unique Dual-enrollment Partnership to support Middleton Magnet High School Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) students. The objective of the partnership is to enhance student achievement by providing students with the opportunity to enroll in two upper level engineering courses taught at USF.  A study of Florida students by the National Center for Postsecondary Research and research from Columbia College, indicates students who take rigorous dual-enrollment courses are more likely to go to college and more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree. In addition, the partnership exposes students to USF’s diverse and vibrant on-campus experience, while increasing student confidence to enroll in challenging STEM degree programs.

The USF engineering courses, Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Engineering Economics with Social and Global Implications, are foundational courses required to earn an engineering degree. Credits can be transferred to any college or university. The courses taught by Dr. Kingsley A. Reeves, Jr. are student-centered and researched-based. They incorporate USF’s Foundations of Knowledge and Learning Core Curriculum with dimensions in critical thinking, inquiry-based learning, scientific processes, and global context, which require students to access prior knowledge in math, physics, and chemistry to solve real world problems.

The selected students from Middleton travel to USF twice a week for face-to-face instruction with Dr. Reeves. Middleton Magnet High School established a learning lab, which is staffed by a doctoral graduate teaching assistant. The purpose of the learning lab is assist students with understanding material content. Students meet in the learning lab three days a week to solve problems, discuss and complete assignments, or to complete exams. All assignments, quizzes, and exams are submitted to Dr. Reeves using the on-line Blackboard application by students on their school issued iPad.

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STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• Increase promotion rates at all grade levels and the percentage of high school graduates • Challenge and support all students with an appropriate curriculum
SUBMITTED BY:  Deborah Cook, Director of Reform, Title I Schools
    Gwendolyn L. Luney

  Assistant Superintendent, Student Services and Federal Programs
(813) 272-4879
    B 01
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20120327_496 (Board Meeting) * Section B Item# 01