Ask the Superintendent

Q- How can a school receive a good grade under the state’s A+ Plan, but receive a “no”  on the Federal Department of Education’s Annual Yearly Progress report (AYP)?

Congratulations
2005 Teacher of the Year Finalists!

Shaneka Blue
Fourth-grade teacher at Westwood Heights Elementary School

Marva M. Christie-Wilks
Sixth- through eighth-grade English teacher at Westglades Middle School

Carleen Kismeth Coote
Sixth- through 12th-grade English teacher at Hallandale Adult Community Center

Bonnie Yvonne Goldstein
Media specialist at Cypress Elementary School

Sandra M. Jackson

Teacher of the Year Nominees - Sisters Rosemary Hart Rawls, Larkdale Elementary (left) and Ruth Hart Ghee, Planation High.

Resource teacher at Oakridge Elementary School

Jennifer McGonigle-Collins
American Sign Language teacher at South Plantation High School

Susan M. Wilcox
Fifth-grade teacher at Sheridan Hills Elementary School

A- School grades awarded under the state’s A+ Plan as well as ratings under the federal government’s Adequate Yearly Progress report (AYP) are based on FCAT scores, but there is one main difference. The A+ grade provides an overall picture of student achievement and student growth for a school, but the AYP takes that one step further by examining subgroups of students.

The AYP looks at the student achievement proficiency and participation of all students who have been in a school for a full academic year and then examines the proficiency and participation of those students when divided into nine subgroups (Total School; White; Black; Hispanic; Asian; Native American; Economically Disadvantaged; Students with Disabilities; and Limited English Proficient). The ratings of all of the subgroups must reach the required level of proficiency for a school to receive a “YES” rating on AYP.

Even though a school may be an A school under the A+ Plan, if one or more of the subgroups within that school did not reach the level of proficiency or participation required by AYP, the school would receive a “NO” rating on AYP.

New Name, Same Services

The Community Relations Department has changed its name. The services the department provides to schools and departments are unchanged, but the department will now be called the Communications & Media Relations Department.

In explaining the change, the department's director, Keith Bromery said, ""Communications & Media Relations more clearly and accurately defines what our department does in supporting the mission of the District."

The Communications & Media Relations Department is responsible for external and internal communications, including responsibility for the District's Web site (www.browardschools.com).

The Communications & Media Relations Department is part of a district division that also has a new name. The Communications, Strategic Planning & Community Relations Division, headed by Assistant Superintendent Dr. Nancy Terrel, will now be known as the Communications, Strategic Planning & Community Involvement Division.

Dr. Terrel said, "We are changing the name of the department to Communication and Media Relations and the Division to Communication, Strategic Planning and Community Involvement to more clearly define for our customers what our key functions are. Although communication is everyone's job, our division is comprised of major players in both internal and external communications and community involvement. In addition we are focused on continuous improvement through strategic planning. So our tweaked titles more clearly define our purpose."