Optimizing Out of School Time in Urban School Districts Presented by: Lewis Brinson, Assistant Superintendent for Administration, Hillsborough County Public Schools Pansy Houghton, Ph.D., Director of Student Planning & Placement, Hillsborough County Public Schools Carla Sparks, Specialist, Student Planning & Placement, Hillsborough County Public Schools Karen French, Principal of Franklin Middle Magnet School, Hillsborough County Public Schools Samuel Brown, Lead Instructor, Franklin Middle Magnet School, Hillsborough County Public Schools Michael Cooper, Ph.D., Director of Southeast Region Affairs, The First Tee Kennie Sims, Director of Golf Operations, Tampa Sports Authority Presented by: Lewis Brinson, Assistant Superintendent for Administration, Hillsborough County Public Schools Pansy Houghton, Ph.D., Director of Student Planning & Placement, Hillsborough County Public Schools Carla Sparks, Specialist, Student Planning & Placement, Hillsborough County Public Schools Karen French, Principal of Franklin Middle Magnet School, Hillsborough County Public Schools Samuel Brown, Lead Instructor, Franklin Middle Magnet School, Hillsborough County Public Schools Michael Cooper, Ph.D., Director of Southeast Region Affairs, The First Tee Kennie Sims, Director of Golf Operations, Tampa Sports Authority

Background Hillsborough County Public Schools is the 8 th largest school district in the nation. To design a Choice plan to meet the needs of a geographically, ethnically and economically diverse population, the district restructured an existing system that had 17 “feeder school” based clusters. The Choice plan divides the district into seven regions. Each region is comprised of two or three high schools, plus the elementary and middle schools. The Choice plan has become an integral part of the district’s culture with a name change in 2006 to reflect a comprehensive approach to the array of school choices offered in the district: Hillsborough Choice Options.

Background Hillsborough High School was opened as the first district magnet school 1971 The District was directed to submit a comprehensive desegregation plan to the courts 2001 The District achieved unitary status

Voluntary Public Schools Choice Grant Project Under the Voluntary Public Schools Choice grant project, Hillsborough County Public Schools has developed The First Tee Golf Academy at Franklin Middle Magnet School. The faculty and staff at Franklin are supportive of the First Tee program. HCPS leadership feels that the First Tee program enhances the Rigorous Academic Program already funded under the current VPSC grant.

The Golf Academy serves as an attractor program to Franklin and co-exists with the existing Law Studies and Public Service magnet program. The Academy is part of The First Tee National School Program. The First Tee National School Program promotes character development and life skills through the game of golf.

The First Tee is a nationally recognized program that seeks to provide educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Golf is used as the vehicle through which youth are empowered to actively participate in their own learning and in decision making and goal setting that will affect their futures.

As students learn the art of Golf, they also learn the importance of maintaining a positive attitude how to make decisions by thinking about the consequences how to define and set goals from the golf course to everyday life

9 Core Values Honesty Integrity Sportsmanship Respect Confidence Responsibility Perseverance Courtesy Judgment

Our data shows: Students in the Golf Academy in improved their school day attendance by 8 percent over the previous school year. School day discipline referrals decreased among these students by 5 percent in as compared to

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