FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
S
TATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
DR. AKSHAY DESAI
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
LINDA K. TAYLOR
Dr. Eric J. Smith
Commissioner of Education
JEAN MILLER
Acting Executive Director
Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 522 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0502 • Fax (850) 245-0875
MEMORANDUM
TO:
District School Superintendents
FROM:
Jean Miller, Acting Executive Director
DATE:
March 14, 2008
SUBJECT:
Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Interdistrict Agreements for Expanding School
Choice through Voluntary Public School Choice (VPSC) Models
INCREASING THE QUANTITY AND IMPROVING THE
QUALITY OF EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS
The Florida Department of Education announces the Request for Proposals for the Interdistrict Agreements for
Expanding School Choice through Voluntary Public School Choice (VPSC) Models. The Voluntary Public School
Choice (VPSC) program aims to strengthen the availability, accessibility, and equity of educational options for
parents to secure a high quality education for their children. The purpose of the program, with particular emphasis
at the secondary level, is to implement interdistrict and/or multi-interdistrict agreement models among partnering
school districts to create and/or enhance existing transfer agreements thereby increasing public school choice
options by expanding access to K-12 school choice programs. Partnership agreements should substantially impact
students in lower-performing schools. The RFP may be viewed at the Office of Independent Education and Parental
Choice (IEPC) website:
http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/Information/vpsc/.
Approximately $5,100,000 is projected to be available within the five-year VPSC program period to support the
development and implementation of the interdistrict agreement models. Initial funding during the first budget
period of the five-year VPSC program will consist of $743,500. A minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of
$170,000 is expected to be awarded for each approved interdistrict and/or multi-interdistrict agreement model
during the first budget period.
Request for Proposals training sessions will be held to provide further explanation of the application process.
Details related to the agenda and schedule will be posted by March 17, 2008, at the IEPC website. Frequently
asked questions will be posted by April 7, 2008, at the IEPC website. Questions will not be answered by
telephone or e-mail.
Questions and answers will not be addressed after April 4, 2008.
Completed proposals are due in the Office of Grants Management no later than the close of business on April 14,
2008.
JM/ymh
CC: Assistant Superintendents, Charter School Principals, School Choice District Contacts, Career and Technical
Education Directors, and Title I/ESE District Contacts