The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), Bureau of Procurement and Contract Administration, may have a requirement for a Florida Scholars Academy (FSA).

The following information was taken from the Request for Information (RFI) document and is subject to change upon the release of a formal solicitation.

INTRODUCTION

Pursuant to Rule 60A-1.042 Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), an agency may request information from the business community by issuing a written Request for Information (RFI). Agencies may use RFI’s in circumstances including, but not limited to, determining whether or not to competitively procure a commodity or contractual service, determining what solicitation process to use for a particular need, or researching general, special, and/or technical specifications for a solicitation. A vendor’s answer to a RFI is not an offer and shall not be used to justify a contract with that vendor without otherwise complying with Chapter 287, Florida Statutes (F.S.), and Chapter 60A-1, F.A.C. Vendors submitting answers to an agency’s RFI are not prohibited from responding to any related subsequent solicitation. The department reserves the right to use or reject any information supplied in response to this RFI

Background

Pursuant to Florida Statute 20.316 (1)(c), DJJ is given the authority to oversee the establishment of the Florida Scholars Academy (FSA or Academy). The department is interested in identifying an education service provider with a proven track record of success to operate, provide, and supplement full-time instruction and instructional support services for students to earn a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma, enroll in a degree program at a state college or university, enroll in a technical college and earn industry-recognized credentials of value from the Master Credentials List. The contracted provider will be responsible for the administration of all educational services to students enrolled at the Academy. D.

Statement of Need

This RFI has been issued for the purpose of gathering information regarding the interest in the establishment of the Florida Scholars Academy. The information compiled in response to this RFI may be used in future solicitations by the department. The department is seeking information on how a potential provider will develop an education delivery system; implement an accountability system approved by the State Board of Education; administer and maintain the educational programs of the Academy; manage the day-to-day operations of the Academy; recruit, employ, train and evaluate administrative and instructional personnel; maintain financial records and accounts of the Academy; maintain the custody and content of student records; and provide students with greater access to secondary and postsecondary educational opportunities.

Statement of Purpose

Pursuant to Florida Statute 20.316 (1)(c), The Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) was given the authority to establish and oversee the Florida Scholars Academy (FSA or Academy). This Scope of Work is intended to provide interested education service providers with a clear understanding of the expectations and requirements established by the legislature to operate a unified education system across DJJ residential commitment programs statewide.

Project Overview

The Florida juvenile justice system is the most comprehensive system in the nation. Since its inception in 1994, the department has undertaken many initiatives to successfully protect public safety, reduce juvenile delinquency, and improve the lives of Florida’s children and families. To continue our mission to build stronger and safer communities, we recognize that the quality of education provided to students is the key indicator to our students’ future success. According to research conducted by Florida State University, two of the three most impactful protective factors for reducing reoffending among residential youth were employment-vocational commitment and school commitment. In creating the FSA, our intent is to elevate the educational experience for committed youth in residential programs by entering into a contractual agreement with an education service provider with a proven track record of success to offer three unique educational pathways including a traditional high school diploma, high school equivalency diploma, and enrollment in postsecondary or workforce training programs with a Florida state college, technical college, or university. An emphasis will be placed on the attainment of an industry-recognized credential that allows youth to be ready for the workforce as productive members of their communities upon program completion.

The following information was taken from the Request for Information (RFI) document and is subject to change upon the release of a formal solicitation.

RESPONSE CONTENTS

Respondents are requested to include information relating to the development, management, and operation of the FSA. Information should describe in detail how the respondent would provide these services, what they feel are best practices to implement services, and what it would cost to provide these services. Respondents should include descriptions of processes and procedures involved in the creation and operation of the Academy’s educational programming, specifically addressing the following:

A. Contact Information Provide the vendor’s complete name, address, telephone number, facsimile number, email address, and the vendor contact person for this RFI.

B. Management Capability/Experience Provide a general overview of the providers profile including a detailed description of the provider’s past education experience, capability, and capacity for providing administration and education services, that will meet the needs of the department’s youth population. Identify the providers proven track record of success to operate, provide, and supplement full-time instruction and instructional services for traditional and expedited diplomas, and career and technical education credentials and certifications.

C. Program/Service Description Provide a detailed description of the vendor’s proposed program/services. Describe the services currently available including the following components, at a minimum:

1. Describe past and current educational services provided to at-risk youth.

2. Describe the process utilized to determine the curriculum and instructional services to provide to FSA students and how they will be implemented.

3. Describe in detail how to oversee and manage a unified school district and all the school sites within the Academy.

4. Describe the services to address exceptional student needs including English Language Learner (ELL) students, Exceptional Student Education (ESE)/504 students with disabilities, students in need of significant course credit remediation, and students deficient in reading and mathematical skills.

5. Describe the process to recruit, hire and retain a highly-qualified and talented faculty and staff with appropriate instructional certifications and credentials.

6. Describe the services for ongoing professional learning opportunities to expand teacher certifications and credentials.

7. Describe the plan for the delivery of support services to ensure students have the resources they need to succeed in the Academy.

8. Describe the plan to maintain student’s home school district and parental involvement in educational decisions and transition processes.

9. Describe how school accreditation will be secured for the Academy.

10. Describe in detail how the Academy’s administration will operate the FSA’s schools.

11. Describe processes and procedures to manage all data related to the school district in accordance with state and federal regulations.

12. Describe processes and procedures to manage the finances of the school district in a responsible and transparent manner.

13. Describe the processes and procedures to provide reports and enact policies as determined by the Secretary and board of trustees.

Education Management

Provider must maintain strong educational and administrative leadership to ensure students receive a high-quality, content-rich, and rigorous education.

A. Oversee the establishment of the FSA as a unified school district and component of the Florida public education system in accordance with legislative intent, state and federal laws, rules, and regulations. Recruit, hire, and retain an approved Superintendent of Schools to oversee the management and operations of the district residential schools within the Academy and under the authority of the department and the board of trustees.

B. Draft and adopt standard operating policies and procedures to define how the Academy’s administration will operate the district’s schools. Create the annual school calendar and daily schedules to meet the state required days and hours needed for juvenile justice schools.

C. Develop the Academy’s education program plan and implement agreed upon curriculum and instruction model that includes direct instruction in consultation with the department and approved by the board of trustees that prepare students to complete their high school diploma or pass the General Education Development (GED) examination. Curriculum and instruction provided should set high-expectations for academic achievement and meet state academic standards. The career and technical education (CTE) plan for curriculum and instruction must meet the career education programming requirements in 63B-1.003 for Type 2 and 3 career education programs and align with the demands of the current job market to prepare students for industry-recognized credentials. The Academy should be designed to meet the individual needs of all students and provide opportunities for academic, career, and personal growth.

D. Develop a plan to promote parental involvement in the FSA.

E. Develop a plan in consultation with the department and approved by the board of trustees to implement a literacy-based reading and writing program. The plan shall set high expectations for student achievement in reading and emphasize literary classics to promote exposure to great books of literature. The curriculum selected should be rooted in scientifically-based reading practices that focus on the acquisition of specific skills and knowledge. Provide details to outline the Academy’s district reading plan and how the Academy will utilize instructional coaches to support the school’s reading practices.

F. Develop course placement procedures and methodology for student placement at each of the Academy schools to allow for competency-based instruction, credit recovery, careerthemed courses, post-secondary instruction, and participation in increased learning opportunities and pathways. Create progress monitoring plans for all students that place an emphasis on strengthening literacy and mathematical skills. Develop a student progression plan that meets state requirements, student academic needs, and future career interests.

G. Provide school counseling services to determine current academic status, graduation pathway and establish a baseline for academic performance to create an assessment plan that incorporates valid and reliable progress monitoring and assessments to measure student performance. Incorporate the use of student achievement data to determine whether students are making adequate progress and inform decisions about, and adjustments to, the educational program based on data.

H. Develop a plan to oversee and facilitate student participation in the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST), Science and Writing Assessments, End of Course (EOC) state required assessments and CTE credential and certification assessments offered by the Academy. Establish approved testing sites to facilitate the GED, Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), American College Testing (ACT), Classic Learning Test (CLT), and Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT) examinations.

I. Deliver Exceptional Student Education (ESE) services and English Language Learner (ELL) support services, such as accommodations, counseling, tutoring, and career advising, to ensure students have the resources they need to succeed in the Academy and meet their individual transition/reentry goals. Recruit, hire, and retain support staff to provide accommodations outlined in student Individualized Education Program (IEP)/504 plans, ELL plans and support teachers throughout the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) process. Staff and deliver an accelerated and/or gifted program.

J. Manage the staff of the Academy, including hiring and evaluating instructional personnel, providing professional learning opportunities, and ensuring that all staff members are held to high standards of performance. Recruit, hire, and retain a highly-qualified and talented faculty and staff with appropriate instructional certifications and credentials to deliver yearround instruction. Seek out individuals with a passion for, and dedication to, the remediation, acceleration, and academic growth of at-risk youth. Establish procedures for the use of noncertified instructional personnel who possess expert knowledge or experience in their fields of instruction consistent with Rule 6A-1.0502, F.A.C.

K. Provide ongoing professional learning opportunities to expand content knowledge, acquire new skills, and hone expertise to meet individual program expectations and student needs. Include trauma-informed training specific to understanding and serving at-risk student populations. Ensure there are adequate opportunities to expand teacher certifications and credentials. Host conferences and workshops with education and industry experts to bring faculty together for collaboration, culture building, and collective learning.

L. Develop a plan to provide instructional oversight and leadership across the Academy’s portfolio of programs. Include details to outline how administration will set clear expectations, conduct classroom observations, and use student performance data to evaluate teacher performance in alignment with the Florida Department of Education’s requirements for district evaluation systems. Provide mentorship and instructional coaching opportunities to allow for continuous feedback, support, and to track progress over time.

M. Develop a school culture plan that is consistent with the district mission, inclusive of resiliency education standards, and congruent with the residential providers’ youth expectations identified in the student handbook. Collaborate with the residential providers to develop a unified behavioral response system to include a code of conduct behavioral intervention policy.

N. Establish individual education transition plans beginning upon a student’s entry into a residential program based on student’s post-release goals in collaboration with the student, the student’s parent(s), legal guardian(s), school counselor, instructional staff, a representative from the student’s home school district, Project Anchor staff and other partners as appropriate. Student education transition plans must outline the specific services and interventions based on assessed educational needs and post-release education plans and include specific monitoring responsibilities for the coordination of services while in the residential program and throughout the reintegration into the student’s home school district. Participate in reentry meetings and provide students home school district transition contact with individual student Electronic Educational Exit Plans (EEEPs) to assist in enrollment back into their home school district or into post-secondary academic programs. Maintain communication with DJJ’s transition providers regarding their followup services to ensure connections are made with service providers and career assistance supports to help students overcome any barriers they may encounter as they adjust to their new circumstances.

O. Obtain appropriate and highly-regarded school accreditations for the Academy, to include certifications and licensures to ensure CTE offerings meet required industry program standards.

Business Management

A. Manage the finances of the FSA in a responsible and transparent manner which includes developing and managing preoperational and projected budgets, accounting records management in compliance with state and federal financial regulations, providing regular financial reports to the board of trustees, and participation in audits.

B. Manage federal funds, to include applicable Title funds, and complete monitoring and reporting in conjunction with the Florida Department of Education to comply with all federal regulations.

C. Develop procurement processes to provide appropriate resources for the Academy’s schools, including classroom materials and furniture, technology, and equipment.

D. Establish and maintain a school district website meeting all state requirements.

E. Establish and maintain a robust technology infrastructure to include Internet at each of the Academy schools that supports online learning, industry credential examinations, state assessments, and administrative tasks. This infrastructure should be secure, reliable, and accessible to faculty and students.

F. Manage all data related to the school district, including state testing and performance data in accordance with state and federal regulations. Maintain the custody and content of student records in a Student Information System (SIS) and ensure all data is reported accurately and in a timely manner. Create a general plan to acknowledge and meet Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) requirements.

G. Develop and manage the FSA organizational chart or charts that clearly and appropriately delineate lines of authority and reporting. Create a management structure that includes clear delineation of roles and responsibilities for administering the day-to-day activities of the school. Create and manage employment contracts and job descriptions. Provide payroll services and competitive compensation and benefits packages.

H. Develop a comprehensive plan, in coordination with the department’s Residential Services Division and Residential providers, for identified facility updates and renovations, ensuring that the FSA’s classrooms are safe, functional, and conducive to learning. Provide updates to the board and key stakeholders to include all necessary tasks, timelines, and resources required to complete the project.

I. Collaborate with the department’s Residential Services Division and Residential providers to problem solve and remove barriers to access and allow full participation of the FSA education programs to be provided to all students in compliance with state and federal regulations.

J. Provide legal counsel services and guidance to the FSA in all areas of law relevant to the operation of the district, including, but not limited to, education law, employment law, contract law, risk management, and regulatory compliance. Represent the FSA in negotiations and hearings with regulatory agencies, public entities, and other parties, as necessary.

K. Provide subcontractor recommendations to the board as needed for approval. Develop a justification and qualification criteria to account for experience and expertise to subcontract with an external provider. Monitor the performance of the subcontractor, ensuring that all work is completed to a high standard and that all deliverables are met.

L. Engage with the local communities to ensure that the FSA outcomes are meeting state industry needs. This includes developing partnerships with community organizations, industry leaders, state colleges and universities, and ensuring that all stakeholders have access to relevant information about the programs and outcomes of the FSA.