Title: G11-Contract for the Purchase of Professional or Technical Services with the PBC Literacy Coalition

Recommendation:
I recommend that the School Board approve this contract with the Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition in the amount of $130,000 for the period of July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008, 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:

Consider approval of a new contract with the Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition in the amount of $130,000 for the period of July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008, pending approval of the Adult Education and Family Literacy - Adult General Education Grant.

The contract will provide for an information and outreach program for adults to literacy education services in Palm Beach County.

In FY07, 1,623 calls were received on the Literacy Hotline.  Of these calls, 1,174 were referred to Adult Education and Literacy Programs.  Another 344 adult learners were referred to literacy volunteer opportunities in Adult Education and Literacy Programs.  Other services provided by the Coalition included support services and instructor training for 296 teachers and tutors.  In addition, 447 adult learners were provided with 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 Tests (GED) and the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS).

The Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition will, for FY08:
     provide a trained staff member to offer one-to-one counseling, referral, and follow-up to adults seeking information about literacy programs in Palm Beach County;
     refer a minimum of 1,000 adults to participate in literacy program;
     provide statistical information on the number of referrals and the status of each referred 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 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 standardization including TABE, CASAS, GED.

Financial Impact:
The financial impact to the FY08 budget is $130,000.  The source of funds is the Adult Education and Family Literacy- Adult General Education Grant.  These are Workforce related funds and not part of K-12 FTE funding.  There is no capital impact.  The funds are budgeted in the K-12 Curriculum, Adult and Community Education Department. 

For Additional Information, contact:

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

Brenda Magee, Ed. D.

Attachments (list):
Data Panel Literacy Coalition AGE Grant.pdf
Literacy Coalition Contract AGE Grant.pdf
LEGAL CONTRACT REVIEW CHECKLIST LITERACY COALITION AGE GRANT.pdf