To:

Members, Board of Education

From:

Terry B. Grier, Ed.D.

Date:

December 15, 2006

RE:

U.S. Department of Education Character Education Grant Contract

In July 2006, the U.S. Department of Education/Partnerships in Character Education Programs (PCEP) awarded nearly $1.5 million to Guilford County Schools and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools in a four-year grant to study the impact of character education on the social, ethical and academic achievement of middle school students.  Dr. Philip Vincent, character education consultant and author, will be the director for the grant in collaboration with the district’s administration.  Six Guilford county middle schools have been randomly selected by the U.S. Department of Education to participate in the four year study.  The schools are Ferndale Middle, Jamestown Middle, Kernodle Middle, Northeast Middle, Northwest Middle and Welborn Middle.

The 2006-2007 contract indicates the budget for contractual services rendered by the Character Development Group that are components of the Department of Education grant.  The 2006-2007 budget detail is as follows:

• Project Director- $55,000
• Local Travel- $1,000
• National Travel- $1,000
• Supplies and Materials- $5,000
• Character Education Consultants- $10,000
• Website Design- $5,000
• Evaluation and Research Budget- $45,000
• Focus Group Specialist/Evaluation Consultant- $5,000
• Statistical Management Research Assistant- $25,000
• Co-Evaluator Travel- $6,000
• Experimental/Control Group Data Collection Team Travel- $5,799
• Supplies & Office Costs for Evaluation-$10,000

TOTAL:  $173,799

RECOMMENDATION: The administration recommends that the board approve the contract with the Character Development Group to provide services as project director of the Middle School U.S. Department of Education Character Education Grant for the 2006-2007 school year for a total amount of $173,799.

Attachment #1 - Scales for Assessment of Character
Attachment #2 - Guideline
Attachment #3 - References
Attachment #4 - Figure 2: Goals , Intended Student Outcomes, and Performance Measures (Dimensions)
Attachment #5 - First Year Budget
Attachment #6 - Overview Letter
Attachment #7 - Grant Narrative
Attachment #8 - Committment Grant Letter
Attachment #9 - Paul Chapman Vitae
Attachment #10 - Marvin Berkowitz Vitae
Attachment #11 - Philip Vincent Vitae
Attachment #12 - Letter
Attachment #13 - Contractual Agreement