Title: 2.  AGREEMENT WITH BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA FOR 2005-2006 SCHOOL YEAR

Requested Action:

1.     CONFIRM SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION UNDER THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB PARTNERSHIP GRANT PROGRAM IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $92,041.

4.  AUTHORIZE THE BOARD CHAIRPERSON AND THE SUPERINTENDENT TO AFFIX THEIR SIGNATURES TO THE AGREEMENT UPON APPROVAL AS TO FORM.

Summary Explanation and Background:

Conference Report on Senate Bill 2600, Specific Appropriation 86 authorizes the Commissioner of Education to award grant dollars to school districts for projects in partnership with local Boys and Girls Club programs.

This appropriation will continue to help fund a collaboration begun in 1999-2000 between Duval County Public Schools and the Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Florida implemented at the following Boys and Girls Club sites (Beaches, Woodland Acres, Laurence Lee, Kooker Park, Victory Pointe).  This is a specially-funded leglislative initiative that gives students an additional opportunity to receive tutoring and remediation using  Lightspan technology separate and apart from any services provided at a school through the TEAM UP Program.  Students from 13 elementary schools (Atlantic Beach, San Pablo, Neptune Beach, Seabreeze, John Love, Long Branch, R. L. Brown, Andrew Robinson, Woodland Acres, Brookview, Love Grove, Ramona, and Jacksonville Beach) and 5 middle schools (Fletcher, Matthew Gilbert, Kirby-Smith, Arlington, and Stilwell) will participate in the after-school program at the Boys and Girls Club sites.  Also included in the project are summer camps sponsored through the Boys and Girls Club on school sites at Lola Culver and West Jacksonville. 

The tutoring and remediation at the Boys and Girls Club sites will include direct teacher instruction and Lightspan technology.  Lightspan is a video technology in which students review reading and math skills while solving stories and mysteries.  Evaluation data required by the state includes promotion rate and FCAT scores.  In 2003-2004, a total of 1,549 students participated in the program, with 88% of those students promoted to the next grade level.  Additionally, 42% of the students achieved at Level 3 or higher on FCAT-Reading and 37% were at Level 3 or higher in FCAT-Math.  In 2004-2005, a total of 1,303 students participated in the program with 88% of those students promoted to the next grade level, 46.3% achieving at Level 3 or higher on FCAT-Reading, and 39.2% scoring at Level 3 or higher on FCAT-Math.  During school year 2005-2006, it is anticipated that approximately 1,400 students will be served through this partnership. 

Funding from the state to each district for this project is formula-based, and distribution of funds by the Boys and Girls Club to each Club site is based on the participation at each Boys and Girls Club.  The amount of funding allocated by the state of Florida to Duval County in 2005-2006 for this project represents a decrease of $1,550 from 2004-2005.  This year's project funding will go to support the salary/benefits for two education directors at Club sites, a Project Learn Coordinator, a computer instructor, and $1,250 for a consultant to evaluate project data.  Additional funding from the Boys and Girls Club will go to support the teachers employed in the program and the summer camps at West Jacksonville and Lola Culver.

New Century Commission Recommendation/OPPAGA Recommendation/Council of Great City Schools Recommendation:

R3, R35, R107

Financial Impact:

Addition of $92,041 to the district budget in grant funding

For Additional Information, contact:

Kris Larsen               858-6080