Title: G5 Continuation Funding for the Voluntary Public School Choice Mentor District Project Grant

Recommendation:
I recommend that the School Board approve the continuation funding for the Voluntary Public School Choice (VPSC) Mentor District Project Grant from the Florida Department of Education in the amount of approximately $200,000 effective October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2006, and authorize the Superintendent or designee to sign all documents and contracts related to the grant as required for the implementation of grant activities.

Description:

The Florida Voluntary Public School Choice (VPSC) Mentor District Project Grant is a five-year continuation grant, and the School District of Palm Beach County was one of thirteen Florida School Districts to receive the initial competitive grant funds.  This original grant was approved at the April 23, 2003 Board Meeting under agenda Item # 9E-3.

The Florida Voluntary Public School Choice (VPSC) Mentor District Project grant has the following purposes: 1) sustain, expand and/or replicate a wide variety of choice program options, 2) create public school choices that will impact students in low performing schools, 3) expand voluntary public school choices throughout the state.

Continuation funds will support the following activities: 1) communicating choice options with parents, 2) marketing choice programs in Palm Beach County, 3) supporting the annual "Showcase of Schools", 4) providing funds to support costs related to the choice application, publication of the "Choice Booklet" and "Choice Brochure", and choice lottery process, 5) support activities and costs related to the choice component of the federal "No Child Left Behind Act of 2001", and 6) provide technical assistance to Palm Beach County's mentee school district, Collier County.

The method of evaluation will include data reports on the number of students exercising choice and the number of public school choice options provided to students, and any resulting improvement in student achievement.

The original Voluntary Public School Choice (VPSC) Grant is on file in the Board office.  The RFA will be available the end of September 2005.

Financial Impact:
The financial impact to the Special Revenue-Other Fund is an increase of approximately $200,000 from the VPSC Mentor District Project grant funds.  These funds will be allocated to the Department of Choice Programs and School Choice budget.  All grant related expenditures and contracts are authorized for payment up to the amount of revenue.

For Additional Information, contact:
Ann Killets/ (akillets@palmbeach.k12.fl.us)
Janice  Cover
Mary  Vreeland

Attachments (list):
VPSC Grant.RTF
VPSC Grant DPs.RTF
Q&AG5.doc