Classroom Data Management and Gradebook Solution Agreement
The Board approved the purchase of the Excelsior Software, Inc. Classroom Data Management and Gradebook Solution. This software will allow teachers to effectively bridge the District’s student information system, TERMS, and track students’ grades, attendance, progress and interim reports as they relate to Florida performance standards. It will also be a secure management utility for teachers and a real time source for information for principals, parents and students. The software will provide the electronic transfer of grades, attendance, and Workforce Development performance indicators to TERMS and eliminate the need for bubble sheets, attendance cards, manually developed progress reports and the data entry previously used to collect that information.
State Soccer Championships Will Again Be Held At
Lockhart Stadium
A contract approved by the Board with the Florida High School Athletic Association clears the way for the state soccer championships to again be held at Lockhart Stadium. The championships, scheduled for February 8-11 and 15-18, 2006 and February 14-17, 2007, showcase the best high school student athletes and soccer teams in the state. Through coverage by the Sunshine Sports Network, local and state print media, attention is focused on Lockhart Stadium and Broward County Public Schools.
Advancement Via Individual Determination Program
The Board approved the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Program, which is designed to increase student learning and performance. The AVID program is aimed at ensuring that students, who might otherwise not tackle advanced academic courses, complete a college preparatory path and succeed in college. The AVID program works within the regular school day and includes an elective class, trained tutors, an AVID teacher, and a site team of teachers. The AVID program’s mission is to inspire all students to succeed in rigorous curriculum; enter mainstream activities at their schools; increase their enrollment in colleges and universities; and become responsible participants and leaders in a democratic society. AVID will be implemented in four high schools - Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale, McArthur, and Northeast, and three middle schools - Sunrise, McNicol, and Rickards. |
District Awarded
Four New
Grants
Four newly awarded grants will soon enable the Broward School District to improve school safety, support the School Leadership Development Program, increase training opportunities and create smaller learning communities.
Emergency Response Grant
The U.S. Department of Education recently awarded the District a $489,000 grant to improve and strengthen existing initiatives that will enable schools to better respond to crises and emergencies. The primary goals of the 18-month project include: establishing a Districtwide First Responder Committee; improving and strengthening school emergency response and crisis management plans; and communicating emergency plans and procedures to parents.
School Leadership Program Grant
The Human Resources Development Department, headed by Dr. Leontine Butler, is receiving $1,487,577 in grant funding over three years to support the District’s School Leadership Development Program. This program will include mentoring and field experiences such as internships and residencies for current and prospective principal candidates. It’s designed to help the District meet the increasing demand for highly qualified school leaders.
American History Grant
The District was awarded a $992,406 grant from the U.S Department of Education for a three-year Teaching American History project. This project will engage 500 American history elementary and secondary school teachers in low-performing schools throughout the District as learning partners with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, Florida Atlantic University, History Alive!, Colonial Williamsburg, local museums and historical societies.
Smaller Learning Communities Grant
Eight Broward high schools – Coconut Creek, Deerfield Beach, Dillard, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood Hills, Northeast, Piper and Stranahan – are receiving implementation grants from the federal “smaller learning communities” program. The District will receive a total of $7,399,887 over five years to create more personalized learning environments at some of the larger high schools in the District. |
