The beginning of a new school year is always exciting. Students and teachers are getting to know each other. New administrators are learning the ins and outs of their buildings or departments and our new teachers and their mentor teachers begin working together.

This is a particularly exciting year because we continue to make progress in increasing student achievement. The new school year gives us an opportunity to build even further on all we’ve accomplished.

We have 102 schools that have earned an “A” and 48 schools that have earned a “B” under the state’s A+ Plan. And, the Council of the Great City Schools’ Beating the Odds V report pointed out more of our good news. Broward performed as well as, or better than, the state in every grade level examined in mathematics and every grade level in reading, except ninth-grade reading.

We continue to narrow the achievement gaps for both Black and Hispanic students in mathematics, and we did so at a greater rate than the state in all grade levels sampled. The reading achievement gap has also narrowed at the elementary and middle school levels for both Black and Hispanic students.

Over the past three years, the number of students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) courses and those taking AP exams rose dramatically. Even though the numbers of students enrolled in AP courses has increased, average scores reflect high levels of performance and are in line with students statewide and around the world.

The District continues to grow. For the 2005-06 school year we are opening two new schools, and nine Charter schools will join the District. Although enrollment is expected to top 274,000 this school year, we will continue to work to provide quality facilities and maintain our efforts to meet class size requirements.

No matter what your position is in the District, you are a leader in our effort to raise student achievement. I am proud to have each and every one of you as members of the Broward team and I look forward to working with you throughout the school year. We share an important task - to provide the education on which Broward’s children will build their futures.

Davie area students attended classes in a room inside what was known as “the big store”, 1910 Image courtesy of Old Davie School Archives, Anna Hammer Collection