M E M O R A N D U M

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

TATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

F. PHILIP HANDY,

DONNA G. CALLAWAY

John L. Winn

Commissioner of Education

M E M O R A N D U M

DATE:

May 19, 2005

TO:

School District Superintendents

FROM:

Jeanine

Blomberg

SUBJECT:

Title II, Part A – Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund

Application, 2005-06

We are pleased to provide you with the Request for Applications (RFA) for the 2005-06 Title II,

Part A – Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund Application. These Title II funds

can be used in a variety of ways as specified in the RFA but are particularly appropriate to assist

in increasing the supply of highly effective teachers and improving the quality of instructional

leadership. The activities authorized under this program allow districts to focus implementation

in areas where the need is the greatest.

There are several unique provisions related to this program. First, the additional requirement

specified for 2003-04 remains for this program in school year 2005-06. This requirement is that

not less than 10 percent of the district’s allocation must be spent on training in support of

Florida’s reading initiative, Just Read, Florida! Each applicant is asked to describe how the

activities in this project will support the reading initiative, consistent with the

Reading Program

Specifications

for Just Read, Florida! These specifications can be found at

http://www.justreadflorida.com.

Secondly, you are strongly encouraged to first meet the No Child Left Behind (NCLB)

requirement of assisting teachers in becoming highly qualified prior to hiring teachers from this

fund source. These activities, as all other professional development activities, must meet the

definition of professional development activities described in section 9101(34) of the No Child

JEANINE BLOMBERG

CHIEF OF STAFF

325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-9663 • www.fldoe.org

District Superintendents

May 19, 2005

Page 2

peggy.primicerio@fldoe.org

Left Behind Act. Specifically, this means that the professional development activities must be

comprised of more than a single-day workshop or conference.

Thirdly, for the 2004-05 school year, the Legislature required (in Appropriations Act proviso

language), that for Teacher Professional Development Programs, funds would not be disbursed

to any district until the superintendent certified the accuracy of the staff in-service education

participation hours reported to the Department of Education. Additionally the Legislature

directed that funds be directed by the Commissioner to meet legislative student achievement and

professional development goals, with an emphasis on scientifically-based reading methods, and

that funds allocated to school districts be used to address needs identified by student achievement

data. It is likely that the 2005-06 Appropriations Act will contain similar provisions.

We look forward to receiving your application for these funds. If you have questions or

concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Peggy Primicerio via email at

or call 850-245-0501.

JB/mka

cc: Title II Project Directors

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