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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #1847 |
| I CAN Succeed Center |
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| Requester: |
Michelle Tate-Martin / I CAN Board of Directors |
Organization: |
I CAN! Community Education Coalition, Inc. |
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| Project Title: |
I CAN Succeed Center |
Date Submitted |
1/3/2008 3:04:51 PM |
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| Sponsors: |
Storms |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| A Tampa Tribune newspaper article dated December 1, 2007, regarding conflicting figures on state, local, and national graduation and dropout rates, cited a report by Johns Hopkins University which revealed that more than half of Florida�s high schools sampled had a dropout rate of 40 percent. The article also reported national figures which show that nearly half of Florida�s high schools fail to graduate more than 60 percent of their students. Florida Education Association Spokesman Mark Pudlow was quoted in the article. He said, �Whether you calculate them one way or another, it doesn�t make any difference. There are just too many kids who aren�t completing high school.�
Undoubtedly, the statistics cited above and the concern among education stakeholders indicate there is
statewide interest in improving high school completion rates in Florida. I CAN! Community Education
Coalition, Inc. created I CAN Succeed Program in 2004 as an underage (16 and 17 year olds) GED
program in partnership with Hillsborough County Public Schools to increase the high school completion
rate. I CAN Succeed Center will be an expansion of the successful program to offer a larger number of
at-risk youth 15-22 years old a non-traditional, intensive, small group learning environment to improve
their academic skills to obtain their high school diploma and to enter and succeed in higher education and
the workforce.
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| Recipient: |
I CAN! Community Education Coalition, Inc. |
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Contact: |
Michelle Tate-Martin |
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5118 N.56th Street, suite 123 |
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Contact Phone: |
(813) 849-5595 |
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Tampa 33610 |
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Contact email: |
ican_cec@yahoo.com |
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| Counties: |
Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk |
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| Gov't Entity: |
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Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
Yes |
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| Project Description: |
| I CAN Succeed Center (ICSC) is a nonprofit, private education center for youth 15 and older at-risk of not receiving a high school diploma. The Center is registered as a private school with the Florida Department of Education, Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice. The goal is to open the Education Center in August 2008, with funding primarily from the Mckay and Florida Tax Credit Scholarships to enable students to pay the annual tuition ($3750). Majority of the students (75 per semester) will come from low-income families in Hillsborough County.
I CAN Succeed Center�s mission is to increase the high school completion rate in Hillsborough County by providing older youth high-quality, education and training programs to empower them to obtain a high school diploma, and to succeed in higher education, the workplace, and society. ICSC will be a non-traditional, community-based education center that will take on Hillsborough County�s alarming dropout problem and the growing number of over-age youth (14 and older) stuck in middle school due to repeated failure on the FCAT tests. The Center will target youth who are functioning one or more grade levels behind in public school; youth who dropped out of school; and youth who need an intensive learning environment to improve their academic skills to obtain their high school diploma. Following diagnostic testing, students will receive individualized education plans. They will receive teacher-directed small group instruction, self-paced and self-directed instruction, and one-on-one tutoring using module-based learning programs in the core academic subjects (reading, math, language arts writing, science and social studies) and standardized test preparation programs. The individualized, performance-based print and software programs promote high academic standards and student achievement. The curricula require 90% or higher on post-lesson mastery tests to advance throughout each program ensuring skill mastery and successful completion of the learning programs. The materials are correlated to the Sunshine State Standards and prepare students for standardized tests (FCAT, TABE, SAT, & GED). The Center�s emphasis on reading and math remediation will close the achievement gap among low-performing students. Through community, education, and business partnerships, students will receive mentoring, social service counseling, life skills and workforce readiness training, community service opportunities, externships, and transition assistance with post-secondary education and vocational training or job placement.
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| Is this a project related to a federal or state declared disaster? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| � 80 percent or higher will raise their academic skills to high school and /or pre-college levels
� 80 percent or higher will develop workforce and life skills
� 80 percent or higher will receive their high school diploma or State of Florida Diploma
� 50 percent or higher will successfully enter higher education or vocational training
� 50 percent or higher will obtain employment
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$100,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$517,000 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Operations |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
Private |
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Cash Amount |
$ |
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In-kind Amount |
$85,000 |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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No |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
No |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
State of Florida's (and Hillsborough County School District) Drop-out Rates |
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| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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Yes |
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Hearing Body: |
Hillsborough County Delegation Meeting, Dec 2007 |
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| Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida? |
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No |
