Wide Range Of District Academic Initiatives, Educator Training Underway

Wide Range Of District Academic Initiatives, Educator Training Underway - Research-Based Reforms Target Improved Student Achievement, Higher Standards


Public Affairs - (561) 434-8228
July 8, 2009

The School District of Palm Beach County stands alone among all of the urban districts in Florida, having earned 5 consecutive A ratings from the State Department of Education. However, we are keenly aware that we must continue to improve to allow all of our students in all of our schools to achieve their full academic potential.

To that end, the district has hired a new Chief Academic Officer and has embarked on an aggressive series of academic reforms aimed at continually raising student achievement and preparing all teachers, students and administrators for the new higher state standards taking effect in 2010. Training, preparation and implementation of these initiatives are occurring during the summer and will continue throughout the next several school years and beyond. The response from teachers and other staff has been overwhelmingly positive and cooperative, and the training schedules and difficult work involved is occurring at a rapid and intense pace. The attached information is intended to help you and your readers and viewers understand these initiatives and their relationship to students in the classroom.

Read the June 2009 Edition of the Chief Academic Office Newsletter. Included within this month’s edition are detailed discussions about the following topics:

·A message from the Chief Academic Officer;

·Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test Executive Summary;

·Why a “Total Curriculum” Approach;

·Key Strategic Pillars:

-Align curriculum and structure to support effective instruction using the Florida Continuous Improvement Model

-Tailor professional development through school-based support team

·VPK Initiative;

·Secondary Reading Programs;

·Intensive Mathematics Programs;

·New Teacher Mentor Program; and

·Summer Professional Development Opportunities.

While much of this information was intended for internal use, a goal of Chief Academic Officer Jeffrey Hernandez and the Department of Public Affairs is to continue to make all information not specifically exempt from public records laws available to all of our stakeholders. This information has been and will continue to be posted on the District's and Public Affairs' websites. The district will continue to proactively send this and all academic reform information to all internal and external constituents to ensure that the entire community is informed, involved and connected to the process of providing the best possible education for our students.