Title: G5-2007-2008 Consolidated Grant Application for Selected Federal Programs

Recommendation:
I recommend that the School Board approve the Consolidated Grant application for Titles I Part A, II Part A, and V Part A to the Florida Department of Education in the estimated amount of $45,096,760, effective 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:

These grants, in compliance with House Rule 1 (HR 1), No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), have been consolidated under a State directive that allows districts to combine the administrative/budgetary processes of several grants.  Each grant functions separately at the program level.  Title I contains components that address school improvement initiatives, Choice, supplemental services, services for neglected and delinquent students and professional development training, while Titles II and V target teacher/principal recruitment, professional development training,  K-12 literacy and curriculum, and FCAT assistance initiatives.  All grants contain monitoring and compliance units to assure audit compliance with State and Federal law.
Title I provides academic assistance to:
o 64,466 students in 111 eligible Title I public schools;
o 450 students in 34 private schools; and
Title I funding must be used for needs identified by schools and may include the following:
o opportunities to develop more highly qualified and effective principals, teachers and paraprofessionals;
o class size reduction;
o technology, including software and hardware;
o supplemental services, such as tutorials, technical assistance and parental involvement strategies;
o tutorial services, including assessment, materials and management from a contracted third party to nonpublic school sites and neglected and delinquent sites; and
o school improvement initiatives in literacy, math and science.
Title II addresses and supports professional staff development for highly qualified teachers and principals in both public and 43 eligible private schools and supports the recruitment of highly qualified teachers.  Title initiatives are implemented through:
o professional development, that supports academic initiatives that target at-risk students not addressed through Title I, provides strategies for more highly qualified teachers, encourages methods for alternative certification, promotes retention of highly qualified teachers, and addresses the needs of eligible nonpublic schools; and
o provisions for sign-on incentives to recruit highly qualified teachers.
 
Title V provides professional development that targets Just Read, Florida! and supports the following K-12 literacy and curriculum through:
o reading initiatives;
o science initiatives;

o academic games; and
o instructional and educational materials for eligible non-profit private schools, K-12.
Evaluation for all grant programs will be evidenced through school improvement plans, FCAT scores, AYP results, survey results from public and private schools, and student gains assessed through tutorial pre and post testing.
A copy of the Consolidated Grant application will be on file in the Board Minutes office.

Financial Impact:
The financial impact to Special Revenue Funds - Other Budget is an increase of $45,096,760 for the NCLB Consolidated Grant that includes Title I Part A ($37,099,816), Title II Part A ($7,697,409) and Title V Part A ($299,535).  These funds will be placed in the budget for the Department of NCLB/Federal Grants for Titles I, II and V.  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)

Marc Baron

Kay W. Scott

Attachments (list):
FY08 Cons App Title I Data Panel.pdf
FY08 Cons App Title II & V Data Panel.pdf