Title: G1-Picower Foundation Grant for College Board Advanced Placement (AP), Pre-AP, and SpringBoard profe

Recommendation:

I     I recommend approval of the submission of the Picower Foundation Grant to provide Advanced Placement (AP), Pre-AP and SpringBoard professional development and implementation to continue and expand Single School Culture for Academics and authorize the superintendent or designee to sign all related documents.

Description:

§         This grant will continue a two-fold initiative for the school district:

o        The continued implementation of the College Board’s SpringBoard Program.

o        Provide Pre-Advanced Placement and Advanced Placement professional development training for teachers in middle and high schools to support Single School Culture for Academics.

§         SpringBoard

o        The SpringBoard Program will work to increase academic rigor and address the needs of up to 1,357 students.

o        SpringBoard will be implemented in 19 secondary schools and will serve up to 69 students in the middle schools and 92 students in each high school.

§         Single School Culture for Academics with Pre-AP and  AP Professional Development

o        Single School Culture for Academics addresses teacher professional development, on a district-wide level, and aims to create academic cohesion within each school.

o        With parallel curricula and an understanding of cross-curricular needs, more students will be better directed toward college preparation and post-secondary success.

o        This initiative will:

§         Offer instructional leadership and content area teacher professional development workshops to support an emphasis on rigor;

§         Develop district professional development leaders to promote the Single School Culture goal of all teachers working to enhance students’ higher order thinking skills;

§         Provide district and school administrators with another opportunity to see the power of rigorous curriculum that focuses on critical thinking.

o        Teachers from 12 high schools and 20 middle schools – the highest priority schools, will be targeted.  These schools have a large population of minority students with low FCAT scores and low graduation/passing rates.  However, teachers from all schools may attend as space allows.

§         The grant will continue to fund one resource teacher, two specialists and one part-time program assistant.

§         The participating Middle Schools are:  Bear Lakes, Carver, Christa McAuliffe, Congress, Conniston, Crestwood, Don Estridge High Tech, H.L. Watkins, Jeaga, John F. Kennedy, Jupiter, Lakeshore, Lake Worth, Lantana, Pahokee, Palm Springs, Roosevelt, Western Pines, Watson B. Duncan and Woodlands.

§         The participating High Schools are:  Atlantic, Boynton Beach, Forest Hill, Glades Central, John I. Leonard, Lake Worth, Olympic Heights, Pahokee, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach Lakes, Santaluces and William T. Dwyer.

§         The impact of the project will be measured by an increase of the following:

o        FCAT scores for the lowest achieving students;

o        Students taking AP courses;

o        Participation in College Board workshops;

o        Minority students who take AP courses; and

o        Students who score a 3, 4 or 5 on AP exams.

Financial Impact:

The financial impact to the Special Revenue – Other Funds Budget is an increase of $581,542.

For Additional Information, contact:

Ann Killets akillets@palmbeach.k12.fl.us

Alison Adler

Attachments (list):
High School Data Panel.pdf
Middle School Data Panel.pdf
FY07 Picower Grant Proposal - SB and AP.pdf
Picower Grant SB and AP Evaluation Attachment.doc