Title: G3-Innovation Fair Matchmaker Grants

Recommendation:
I recommend that the School Board accept the Innovation Fair Matchmaker grants in the amount of $180, 000 effective January 25, 2007 through June 30, 2007, and authorize the Superintendent or designee to sign all documents and contracts related to this agreement.

Description:

The purpose of this Innovation Fair Matchmaker Grant Project is to use the Mentor/Mentee model to plan and develop new career academies using successful, nationally recognized career academies in the School District of Palm Beach County as Mentors.  The Matchmaker Grant will form a mentoring model between these current Palm Beach County successful career academies and new applicants functioning in the role of Mentees.  The Palm Beach County Mentor Career Academies are research-based, rigorous educational programs that combine relevant academic and technical curricula around career themes for the purpose of providing an instructional delivery system that incorporates relevant and rigorous academic standards with industry and business relevancy. 

The Mentor Goals are:
1.  To serve as career academy Mentors to identified Florida schools that are planning replicate career academy models.

2.  To provide technical assistance to Mentees in the development and organization of Career Academies based on the National Career Academy Standards.

3.  To provide technical assistance to Mentees as they develop rigorous, interdisciplinary curriculum linked to relevant career-oriented learning and teaching.

4.  To provide technical assistance to Mentees with successful techniques for establishing/using the resources of community, business and college partnership advisory boards.

5.  To provide technical assistance to Mentees with shared insights into continuous improvement, sustainability and long-term success.

The following schools will be participating:  Atlantic High School, Forest Hill High School, John I. Leonard High School, Lake Worth High School, Palm Beach Gardens High School, William T. Dwyer High School and Village Academy.

For each academy, grant funds will support curriculum development, professional development, instructional materials and equipment, and travel including staff attendance at career academy conferences. 

Grant management will be provided by the Career Education Team in the Department of Choice Programs and School Choice.

Financial Impact:
The financial impact to the Special Revenue-Other Fund is an increase of $180,000 to the FY07 budget.  These funds will be allocated to the Department of Choice Programs and School Choice/Career Education 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)

Brenda Magee, Ed.D.

Mary R. Vreeland

Attachments (list):
Data Panels for Grant.pdf
Innovation Fair Matchmaker Grants.pdf