The Consortium is housed in the College of Education at the University of Florida and governed by a Steering Committee representing the university, Santa Fe Community College, public schools, families, and community service providers. The Consortium focuses on building linkages among people who are in positions to promote the success of struggling elementary school students.
 

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Consortium is to promote the success of struggling elementary school students in Alachua County through the development and coordination of resources from schools, families, and the community.
 

GUIDELINES

The Consortium operates within the framework provided by the Holmes Partnership, a network of universities, schools, community agencies and national professional organizations working in partnership to create high quality professional development and significant school renewal to improve teaching and learning for all children. The Holmes Partnership has six goals:

Goal 1: HIGH QUALITY PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION for public school educators. These programs must demonstrate rigor, innovation, and attention to the needs and build on the strengths of diverse children and youth. Their design, content, and delivery must reflect research and best practice.

Goal 2: SIMULTANEOUS RENEWAL of public schools and the education of beginning and experienced educators by establishing strong partnerships of universities, schools, and professional organizations and associations.

Goal 3: EQUITY, DIVERSITY, and CULTURAL COMPETENCE in schools, higher education, and the education profession.

Goal 4: SCHOLARLY INQUIRY AND PROGRAMS OF RESEARCH that advance knowledge, improve teaching and learning for all children and youth, inform the preparation and development of educators, and influence educational policy and practice.

Goal 5: SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY-BASED FACULTY DEVELOPMENT to enable accomplishment of the goal of serving the needs of all learners.

Goal 6: POLICY INITIATION related to improving teaching and learning for all students, promoting school improvement, and enhancing the preparation and continuing professional development of all educators.

Link to Holmes web site: www.holmespartnership.org
 

HISTORY

The Consortium grew out of partnerships between College of Education faculty and several local elementary schools. Specifically, the Consortium was seen as a way to include more schools and more people who influence childrenís lives in a coordinated effort to support struggling elementary school students.

Following several planning meetings, a kick-off event was held in September 1999 to introduce the Consortium concept, identify studentsí needs, and assemble a Steering Committee. Those in attendance represented the local school district, the university, families, and service providers.

The 10-person volunteer steering committee met 5 times during the 1999-2000 school year. They began with student needs identified at the September meeting and launched several projects to address those needs. By the end of the first year, the Steering Committee had drafted by-laws, expanded Committee membership, and agreed on a focus for the following yearís efforts.
 

CONSORTIUM PROJECTS

1999-2000


2000-2001

                  --   six 2-hour Responsive Classroom workshops for teachers (10/4, 10/11, 10/25, 11/1, 11/8, 11/29)
                  --  day-long workshop sponsored by Flowers Montessori (3/01)
                  --  disseminate strategies for social and emotional learning to families (e.g., through religious institutions and Head        Start, attendance at Connecting Community and Classroom Conference, and other means)
 
For information on social and emotional learning, link to www.casel.org                 --    locate scholarship fund for students to attend after-school programs
                --    develop education services directory
 

BY-LAWS (Drafted April 2000; Edited and approved November 13, 2000)

Article I: Name of Organization

The organization is named The Alachua County Consortium for Family, School, Community Collaboration. The Consortium is composed of organizations representing families, schools, and community agencies that are committed to helping struggling elementary students succeed in school.

Article II: Purpose and Functions of Steering Committee

The Steering Committee is responsible for overseeing the Consortiumís efforts to fulfill its mission: to promote the success of struggling elementary school students through the development and coordination of family, school, and community resources.

During the spring of the year, the Steering Committee will determine priorities based on needs assessments conducted by the schools and participating agencies. Ad-hoc sub-committees of the Steering Committee will develop plans to address priorities. Efforts will be limited to one or two large projects while preserving room for smaller projects that arise during the year.

Article III: Representation and Membership

The Steering Committee represents families, schools, and community agencies that are concerned with elementary school students.

At least one representative from the following stakeholders will serve on the Steering Committee:

Head Start                                               College of Education staff

Parent Teacher Association                     UF staff

Department of Children and Families     Santa Fe Community College staff

Elementary principals                             Extended day programs and other out-of-school time programs

Elementary teachers                                Law enforcement

SBAC staff                                             Religious institutions

SBAC volunteers                                    Health care

Article IV: Selection Procedure

A combination of appointment and volunteerism will be used to achieve the membership described in Article III.

Article V: Tenure

Steering Committee members will serve two-year terms and may serve multiple terms.

Should a vacancy be created on the Steering Committee, the position will be filled with a person representing the same constituency. A combination of appointment and volunteerism will be used, and the new Committee member will complete the term of the departing member.

Article VI: Meetings

Meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of every other month, beginning in September (i.e., September, November, January, March, May). Meeting dates will be changed when necessary to avoid holidays.

Five members will constitute a quorum.

Article VII: Officers

Officers will be elected as vacancies occur from the members of the Steering Committee. Officers will include a chairperson and a secretary/treasurer.

A chairperson will coordinate the activities of the Steering Committee. The chairperson will prepare meeting agendas, arrange for minutes of meetings, oversee communications, facilitate sub-committee work, promote the Steering Committee's agenda in the community, and generally facilitate the efforts of the Alachua County Consortium for Family, School, Community Collaboriation.

The secretary/treasurer will assist the chairperson and conduct Steering Committee meetings if the chairperson is absent.

Article VIII: Committees

Ad-hoc committees will be formed as needed to manage Consortium projects. Members of the Steering Committee will volunteer to serve on ad-hoc committees related to Consortium projects. Committee membership is not limited to members of the Steering Committee.

Article IX: Amendments

Amendments are formal changes to the by-laws. Members of the Steering Committee may propose amendments at a Steering Committee meeting. Amendments will be voted on at the following meeting and adopted by a two-thirds vote of the members present.
 
 

Contact person:

Elizabeth Bondy
2215 Norman Hall
College of Education
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611
352 392-9191 ext. 247
bondy@coe.ufl.edu