Title: AC9-Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition Outreach Program

Recommendation:
I recommend that the School Board approve a continuation contract with the Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition in the amount of $110,000 for the period of July 20, 2006 to June 30, 2007, and authorize the Superintendent or designee to sign all documents and contracts related to the grant which are required for implementation of the grant activities.

Description:

This will be the 24th year that the District has received funds from the Geographic Adult Education grant.  The contract will provide for an information and outreach program that links adults to literacy education services in Palm Beach County.   
 
In FY06, 1,109 calls were received on the Literacy Hotline. Of those calls, 804 were referred to Adult Education and Literacy Programs.  Another 305 were referred to literacy volunteer opportunities in Adult Education and Literacy Programs. Other services provided by the Literacy Coalition included support services and instructor training for 460 teachers and tutors.  In addition, 305 adult learners were provided instruction and support services by the Literacy Coalition.  

This is a performance contract and the funds will be disseminated only upon achievement of specific objectives outlined in the agreement.  Payment is based on the documentation of student achievement demonstrated on standardized testing, including the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE), the General Education Development (GED) Tests and the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS).

The Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition will, for FY07:
• Provide a trained staff member to offer one-to-one counseling, referral, and follow-up services to adults         seeking information about literacy programs in Palm Beach County;
• Refer a minimum of 1,000 adults to participate in literacy programs;
• Provide statistical information on the number of referrals and the status of each referral for inclusion in the Adult Education Annual Performance Report as required by the Florida Department of Education;
• Train a minimum of 200 literacy teachers and volunteers in teaching strategies to address specific adult learning techniques;
• Provide information and support services to a minimum of 100 adults who will demonstrate educational gains in basic and functional literacy levels as measured by standardized tests, including the TABE, CASAS and GED.

Financial Impact:
The financial impact to the FY07 budget is $110,000.  The source of funds is the Geographic Adult Education and Family Literacy Grant. These are Workforce Development related grant funds and not part of K-12 FTE funding.  There is no capital impact. The funds are budgeted in the Department of Secondary, Adult and Community Education. All expenditures and contracts are authorized for payment up to the amount of revenue.

For Additional Information, contact:

Ann Killets (akillets@palmbeach.k12.fl.us)

Brenda Magee, Ed.D.

Attachments (list):
PBC Literacy Coalition Outreach Program Data Panel 110,000.pdf
PBC Literacy Coalition Outreach Program Contract Review Checklist 110,000.pdf
Literacy Coalition.pdf