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Title: Recommendation: I recommend that the School Board accept the Smaller Learning Communities (SLC) competitive grant for Boynton Beach Community High School and Forest Hill Community High School from the U. S. Department of Education in the amount of $1,637,921, effective July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2010, and authorize the Superintendent or designee to sign all documents and contracts required for implementation of the grant activities. Description: The purpose of this Smaller Learning Communites (SLC) competitive grant is to create or expand wall-to-wall smaller learning communities including freshman academies and multi-year academies. Grant funding will support school restructuring to provide students with a continuum of personalized services including freshman transition activities, theme-based integrated instruction, career guidance, after-school tutorial program, college preparation, and teacher advocates in the small learning environment. Grant funding will provide one manager (1.0 FTE) to facilitate the management, coordination and achievement of SLC goals at both Boynton Beach Community High School and Forest Hill Community High School for the five years of implementation. Business and college partners will serve on small learning community advisory boards and offer students-learning experiences in the context of real-world applications. Measurable outcomes focus on improving achievement, closing achievement gaps, personalizing the school environment, increasing rigor and relevance in the curriculum, and improving graduation rates with increased preparation for college and careers. The SLC Grant requires and funds an external evaluator to assess program effectiveness with respect to the identified measures and implemented changes for school improvement by conducting formative and summative evaluations and submitting annual performance reports to the USDOE. Financial Impact: The financial impact to the Special Revenue-Other Funds budget will be an increase of $326,122 to the FY 06 budget. The financial impact to the FY 2006 through FY 2011 Special Revenue-Other Funds Budget will be an increase of $1,637,921. All grant-related expenditures are authorized for payment in the amount of revenue. For Additional Information, contact: Ann Killets (akillets@palmbeach.k12.fl.us) Barbara Terembes Mary Helen Arbogast Attachments (list):
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