Student Services Action Item

DATE:	Tuesday, November 17, 2015
TO:	School Board Members
FROM:	Jeff Eakins, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve the Memorandum of Agreement Between The School Board of Hillsborough County, Florida and Florida Kids and Canines, Inc.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In support of Hillsborough County Public Schools' strategic priority to increase the graduation rate, it is recommended that the School Board of Hillsborough County approve the Memorandum of Agreement with Florida Kids and Canines, Inc. Research has shown that truant and chronically absent students often fall behind in grade level, graduate from high school far less frequently, drop out of school more often, and become more likely to engage in at-risk behaviors including alcohol, drug abuse, and delinquency. Research also shows that service learning is an effective strategy to reduce truancy. Upon approval of this Agreement, Florida Kids and Canines, Inc. will continue to participate in the procurement, care, and placement of the service canines trained by at-risk students to include those who are chronically truant at the Dorothy Thomas Exceptional Center. The canine training offers alternative, therapeutic support to motivate at-risk and chronically truant students to graduate and become responsible community servants. Over the past 16 years, 63 service dogs trained by approximately 185 at-risk students have been provided to individuals with disabilities of all ages in our community including military veterans.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• Increase promotion rates at all grade levels and the percentage of high school graduates • Motivate students to become responsible learners
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  No)
EVALUATION
District staff will review attendance, discipline and academic improvement annually. The target improvement in each of these areas will be 25%.  In addition, The Kids and Canines program will work to increase the number of at-risk students engaged in the program by approximately 20% each year.
SUBMITTED BY:  Mark Ackett, Supervisor of Attendance

Holly Saia, Director		Wynne A. Tye
Student Services (813) 273-7136		Assistant Superintendent, Student Services (813) 273-7033
		C 2.03
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20151117_705 (Reorganization/Board Meeting) * Section C Item# 2.03