PPB-TV 63 was purchased by the Broward School District in 2000.  The cable station, operated by BECON (Broward Education Communications Network), provides non-commercial, educational programming for the diverse Broward community.

Teaching and inspiring good character is part of educating the whole child.  Character Education, Character – The Core of Our Lives, was introduced in the Broward County Public Schools in the fall of 2000.  The District has focused instruction on the eight character traits: responsibility, citizenship, kindness, respect, honesty, self-control, tolerance, and cooperation.   In addition, after the national tragedy of September 11th, the District increased its emphasis on patriotism.  A different character trait is highlighted each month and a nationally recognized curriculum has been developed.

The teaching of character education is fundamental in preparing students for their future opportunities. The concepts of the program address such issues as bullying and discrimination, while encouraging all students to achieve and succeed. The District recognizes that families will always have the primary role in shaping the moral character of children, but schools also play a vital role in teaching and inspiring good character.

Western High 9/11 Memorial

Just as the rest of the world was shaken by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, so were the students and staff of Broward County Public Schools.  In response to the tragedy a host of patriotic programs, events and projects were held that taught students what it means to be an American.  In addition to simultaneously reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with 52 million public school students across the country, Broward County students and teachers demonstrated their love for America by raising money to support relief efforts, writing letters and drawing pictures that were sent to the heroes of 9/11 and the family members of victims.

The District added 90 new, air-conditioned school buses to its fleet in 2001. In 2000 the Florida legislature mandated that school buses ordered after December 31, 2000 have seatbelts.   The purchase of the new buses made the District one of the first counties to put the safety-compliant vehicles on the road.

In a continuing effort to reach out to people of all cultures, during the 2001-02 school year the Broward School District became the first in Florida to translate its Web site (www.browardschools.com) into three languages.  In addition to English, portions of the site may be viewed in Spanish, Haitian Creole and Portuguese.  That same year,  NetTV was added to the site allowing visitors to the site to watch videos of school and District events on their home computers.  NetTV Sports followed the next year providing video highlights of sporting events.

In 2001, Broward Virtual Education (BVEd) was established by BECON and it continues to grow everyday.  Initially, the online courses taught by Broward teachers were only available to high school students, but in 2005, an online middle school was also launched.  Students may learn at their own pace at school, at home, wherever and whenever they choose.  BVEd’s high school and middle school curricula are accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In 2004, BVEd won the grand prize in the Non-Profit Sector Category of the Cisco Growing with Technology Award.

New Renaissance Middle School dedication ceremony

By the 2002/03 school year, student enrollment had reached 266,272 and was increasing by approximately 5,000 students each school year.  To meet the need, the District opened seven new schools – Cypress Bay High School, New Renaissance and Millennium middle schools, and Park Lakes, Liberty, Sunset Lakes and Manatee Bay elementary schools.  Four new Charter schools also opened that year.

Sixty-six Broward County schools received the Florida Department of Education’s most prestigious award for community involvement for the 2002-03 school year – the largest group of Broward schools to earn that honor up until that time.  The Five Star School Award is presented annually to schools that have shown evidence of exemplary family, school and community involvement.  SeventyBroward schools earned the honor for the 2007/8 school year.

A new technology project initiated in 2002 enables parents to keep up with their children’s progress at school on a daily basis.  Available to students and parents across the District, Virtual Counselor can be accessed through the District’s Web site.  After a few simple clicks, parents and students can access grades, attendance records, test scores, class rank and much more.  If a parent finds something out of the ordinary, they can schedule an appointment with a school guidance counselor.

Joe Balchunas	Henry Brown III

Broward County Schools made history when Henry Brown III from Hallandale Adult Community Center was named Florida Teacher of the Year 2002.  It was the first time a county in Florida had back-to-back state teachers of the year.  In 2001, Joe Balchunas, a teacher at Fairway Elementary School was the Florida Teacher of the Year 2001. Mr. Balchunas is currently principal at Chapel Trail Elementary School.

Digital Learning Environment project

Four Broward schools, Monarch and Miramar high schools, Attucks Middle School and Broward Estates Elementary School served as pilot schools for a Digital Learning Environment project during the 2003-04 school year. Each student at the four schools was provided with a laptop computer for the duration of the project to function as his or her notebook, calendar, homework pad and electronic textbook.

District Volunteers

The hurricane season of 2004 was a memorable one.  Four major storms hit the state causing extensive damage and generating much financial and emotional hardship for thousands of Florida residents.  Broward County escaped relatively unscathed and the generosity extended by both staff and students to the victims of the storms was extraordinary.

Money was raised and school supplies, food, water and clothing were collected and transported to the affected areas of the state. District workers who volunteered to be away from their homes and families traveled to Orange and St. Lucie counties to remove downed trees and clear debris at school facilities.

District officials received the prestigious Florida Commendation Medal Award

Using its telecommunication services and expertise, the District’s Education Technology Services (ETS) Conferencing Services provided valuable collaborative tools for interagency communication throughout the state.  The team secured services for emergency use and worked with equipment manufacturers to provide an on-going and constant line of communication during the storm season.  For their service, District officials received the prestigious Florida Commendation Medal Award, a military honor, for meritorious service to the Florida Army National Guard.

In December 2004 a giant tsunami hit Asia causing massive loss of life and leaving thousands homeless.  Again, Broward schools’ staff and students responded.  Numerous fundraising projects were held across the county at schools and district worksites. Thousands of dollars were raised for relief efforts provided by UNICEF, the Red Cross and other organizations.

First day of school at Coral Glades High

During the 2004/05 school year the District opened two new high schools as well as the first primary learning center in the county.  Coral Glades High School in Coral Springs and Everglades High School in Miramar both opened their doors to welcome students.  The goal of the Endeavour Primary Learning Center, a Pre-K – 3rd grade facility located in Lauderhill, is to ensure that students are functioning at grade level by the end of their third year at the school.

In 2005, The College Board notified Stranahan High School that it had been identified as having more African-American students succeed in AP psychology than any school in the world.

The 2005/06 school year saw the opening of both Dolphin Bay Elementary School in Pembroke Pines and Gulfstream Middle School in Hallandale.  Both were housed at temporary portable sites pending the completion of their facilities.  Additions at Cypress Bay, McArthur and Coral Glades high schools and Coral Springs Middle School added a total of 164 new classrooms for students.

The School District launched the Digital Divide Project in 2005. Digital Divide defines the gap between families who have technology and those who do not. Although the numbers of Americans owning computers continues to rise, certain groups are still far less likely to have computers or online access. Through the Digital Divide Project, refurbished computers that schools surplus are distributed to those eligible, who complete a technology literacy program. 

Another program with a similar goal got underway in 2006.  The Dell TechKnow Program is an after-school program for middle school students that consists of forty hours of technology training.  During the sessions, students learn how to assemble a computer and use various types of software.  Upon completion of all requirements, each student is presented with a refurbished computer.

Thermography camera

Just as students use technology for learning in their classrooms, in 2005, the District’s Physical Plant Operations Division purchased the latest technology to improve the efficiency of its operations, make schools safer and save taxpayers” money. Infrared cameras were purchased to quickly and accurately pinpoint electrical problems by detecting and imaging heat in contrast to its surroundings. During routine maintenance inspections of all schools and other District buildings, six specially trained electricians, called thermographers, use the cameras to photograph all the building’s electrical equipment, preventing unnecessary power outages and costly equipment failures.

Another example of the use of technology is the ParentLink call system installed in 2005.  The system provides call-out capabilities to student homes for truancy notification and the dissemination of routine or emergency school or District information.

Pompano Beach High School – International Affairs and Informational Technology Magnet held a dedication ceremony in January of 2005 to celebrate its new school and in May, Atlantic Technical High School  celebrated the addition of 24 new classrooms.

BECON launched the District’s first virtual middle school for the 2005/06 school year.  The middle school joined Broward Virtual Education’s virtual high school, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. 

K.C. Wright Administration Center after Hurricane Wilma

When Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005, Broward County Public Schools staff and students raised over $333,000 in cash and gift cards to assist victims.  In addition to the outpouring of support, the District welcomed over 200 displaced students from the Gulf Coast region into its classrooms.  Because many families had lost everything, the District did all it could to accommodate incoming students by expediting the enrollment process, providing transportation and offering a host of additional services.  The students received new backpacks and school supplies and counselors were made available to those needing assistance.

On October 15, 2005, Broward County Public Schools celebrated its 90th year educating the children of Broward County.  To mark the event, various communities in Broward County issued proclamations and a historical display was created for the lobby of the District’s administration center.  In addition, a Power point presentation and a special issue of The 411employee newsletter featured historical photos and information.

Also on October 15, 2005, Hurricane Wilma formed in the Atlantic Ocean.  The storm caused extensive damage in Broward County, including downed power lines.  Some communities were also placed under boil water orders.  The decision was made to close Broward schools for two weeks.

After the storm, while many Broward residents were attending to their homes and families, or fleeing the inconveniences of power loss, non-instructional staff worked long, hard hours putting the pieces back together. Due to storm damage at some administrative sites, employees were assigned to temporary work sites, so they could return to work and prepare for the reopening of schools.

The District was awarded the NTI Award of Honor in Hurricane Communications – Grace Under Fire, in recognition of its admirable performance in providing the leadership and communication necessary to effectively lead its staff, students, parents and communities through Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma.  The award was presented through a partnership between the American Association of School Administrators, National School Public Relations Association and The NTI Group, maker of the NTI Connect-ED school-to-parent communication mass service.

The need to assist students and families impacted by Hurricane Wilma came on the heels of the assistance provided to victims of Hurricane Katrina, nearly exhausting resources. But the Broward community rallied to provide what was needed.  Schools, PTA and PTO organizations and others groups held fund raising projects netting over $300,000.  Although most funds were donated to the American Red Cross and Salvation Army, some schools zeroed-in on the plight of pets impacted by the storms and donated funds raised to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Pinwheels at Monarch High School

Two art teachers at Monarch High School, Ellen McMillan and Anne T. Ayers, undertook a project during the 2005/06 school year that has since expanded to schools and other sites around the world. On the International Day of Peace in September, students and staff made pinwheels in memory of people who have died as a result of violence. During the first year of the project, more than 5,000 pinwheels were placed around the school’s campus.

Fort Lauderdale High's Flying L

Although students and staff at Fort Lauderdale High School have considered themselves “Flying Ls” since 1918, the 2005/06 school year marked the debut of the school’s first mascot costume.  Following a student driven effort to adopt a design to create a focal point for school spirit, the student government leadership team unveiled the mascot at a school pep rally. Students, faculty, staff, school alumni and community members witnessed the dramatic debut of the mascot as it “hatched” from a giant egg.

It is critical that children learn and adopt healthy eating habits while they are young. The District’s Food and Nutrition Services Department, in keeping with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, stopped serving baked desserts as part of regular school lunches. The energy needs of students are met in school lunches by increasing fruit, vegetable and low fat dairy products. 

The Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, in cooperation with the Council for Excellence in Government, named the Urban Academies of Broward County as the winner of the Innovations in American Government Award.  The Urban Academies program,  a partnership between the District and other members of the Broward County Educational Consortium, is an innovative program created to develop, hire and retain high-performing and motivated educators in Broward’s classrooms.

WeatherBug system

In 2006, a state-of-the-art weather monitoring system called WeatherBug was installed at District schools.  The system delivers severe weather notifications to school personnel. Alerts are automatically sent via E-mail to school-based computers and PDAs (personal digital assistants) and select cell phones in an effort to protect students during their outdoor activities on the playgrounds, sports fields or while on field trips.

The District began to publish a new newsletter, called Parent News, in 2006.   The newsletter is mailed to parents’ homes to keep them informed of news and events happening in the District.  The cost of the newsletter is covered by advertisements included in the mailing envelope.

In July of 2006, the School Board took a proactive step to address the issue of childhood obesity by adopting a Wellness Policy.  The policy is geared toward helping children learn and develop healthy behaviors, like increasing physical activity and eating nutritious, low fat foods.

Broward Teen News

BECON-TV and the District’s Office of Prevention Programs, debuted a new television program, Reality Avenue, in 2007. Reality Avenue is a series of half-hour violence and substance abuse prevention programs created from the visions of student focus groups and assembled by the District’s Office of Prevention Programs.

Student journalists at Broward Teen News won first place in the News Category and second place in the Sports Category at the 2007 Student Television Network News and Sports Feature Challenge. Held each March in Anaheim, California, the contest honors the country’s finest teen broadcast work.

Tuskeegee Airman Wade Edmond at Blanche Ely High School

In 2007, students, faculty and staff at Blanche Ely High School had the opportunity to meet Tuskegee Airman Ezra M. Hill, Sr. The Tuskegee Airmen were dedicated, determined young men who enlisted to become America’s first black military airmen. Mr. Hill gave an account of his days as an airman in what became one of the country’s most prestigious units. He also spoke about the Tuskegee Airmen Foundation, which promotes youth literacy programs.

Regular School Board meetings were carried live on the District’s Web site, for the first time in 2007.  Although the meeting schedule may vary, regular Board meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 10:15 a.m. Prior to the start of each regular meeting, a video link appears on the home page of the District Web (www.browardschools.com). An audio link is also available.

On the first day of the 2007/08 school year, hundreds of fathers in Broward County joined in the Million Father March by taking their children to school. The countywide march has become an annual event, the goal of which is to solicit more fathers to become actively involved in the education of their children. As a follow-up each year, a Million Fathers March Dinner is held for dads and other men who care for and about children.

In 2007, Pine Ridge Education Center’s family and friends celebrated their brand new replacement school with a festive ribbon cutting ceremony that included student participation and remarks by District and community officials.   Located in Plantation, Pine Ridge is a disciplinary school that strives to provide quality education to students in grades K through 12 in a positive learning environment.

Stranahan’s Inspiration Award ceremony

Stranahan High School was recognized by the College Board as one of America’s Most Improved High Schools and was recipient of the group’s College Board 2007 Inspiration Award.  Stranahan was one of only three schools in the nation to be recognized.

Driftwood Middle School and Pompano Beach High School received Magnet Schools of Merit Awards in 2007.  The awards, presented by the Magnet Schools of America organization, are presented to the top magnet schools in the Untied States, based on their commitment to high academic standards, curriculum innovation, successful desegregation/diversity efforts and the consistent delivery of quality services to all stakeholders.  Driftwood Middle also received the organization’s National Magnet School of Distinction award for the fifth time.  The school was the first magnet school in the nation to have a health and wellness theme. 

In 2007, the District’s Multicultural Department received the ASPIRA Leadership Through Education Award from the organization’s Broward County Division.  The department was honored for its MOSAIC (Multicultural Opportunities for Social, Academic and Intergenerational Competence) project.  The project provides after-school academic, literacy, life skills and technology outreach programs to K-12th grade refugee students and their families.

Broward County Public Schools commitment to energy conservation was recognized in 2007 when Rob Jindracek, manager of the District’s Energy Conservation & Utility Management Department received the Energy Leadership Award at the 18th annual United States Energy Association’s Energy Efficiency Forum, held in Washington D.C.

Cypress Run Groundbreaking

In 2007, ground was broken for a long-awaited new facility to house the Cypress Run Education Center.  The $14 million, two-story facility would replace the portables used to house the center.  The center is a disciplinary school that strives to provide a quality  education to every student, in a positive environment.

Eagle Point Elementary School was selected as a 2007 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.  The school was one of only 287 honored nationally, and one of only 16 in Florida to receive the honor.  The award, one of the most prestigious education awards in the country, distinguishes and honors school for helping students achieve at very high levels and for making significant progress in closing the achievement gap.

After spending three years at a temporary portable campus site, in 2008 Glades Middle School held a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony at its new, permanent school facility in Miramar.  The school, which opened its doors to students on August 20, 2007, is a state-of-the art facility.

Cypress Bay High School journalism students were stars of an MTV Music Television series that premiered in 2008.  The Paper, focused on student staff members working on their school’s award-winning school newspaper, The Circuit. 

Six District high schools were named in the American’s Best High Schools 2008 report that is published by U.S. News & World Report.  Those honored included Atlantic Technical Center, Fort Lauderdale, Nova, Pompano Beach, Stranahan and William T. McFatter Technical Center.  All six schools received silver medal recognition, placing them among the top 3% of high schools reviewed in the study.

For the first time in 2008, Broward had four schools that were recognized in one year as Magnet Schools of Distinction.  The schools included Sawgrass Springs Middle School, Atlantic Technical High School, Pompano Beach High School and South Plantation High School.

Henry Winkler at Fox Trail Elementary School

Henry Winkler, best know as Fonzie on the popular television series Happy Days, is also a New York Times best-selling author of a series of children’s books.  In the spring of 2008, Winkler visited Fox Trail Elementary School to share some of his experiences with students.  In writing his books, all of which center on the character Hank Zipzer: The World’s Greatest Underachiever – Winkler draws on his sense of humor and his own experiences growing up with dyslexia.

Flying on NASA’s Weightless Wonder

“Fabulous, thrilling and out of this world” – that’s how South Plantation High School science teacher Peter Pompura described his flight on the National Aeronautics & Space Administration’s (NASA) “Weightless Wonder” in the spring of 2008. South Plantation High students finalized the concept of a reduced-gravity experiment and then worked with a NASA mentor to get it flight-ready.  Pompura, along with three other educators from the school, then accompanied the experiment aboard the modified McDonnell Douglas DC-9 as it flew a series of parabolic maneuvers – steep climbs followed by sharp descents.  Each climb produced about 30 seconds of hyper-gravity, followed by 18 to 25 seconds of weightlessness.

In July 2008, a solar car built by South Plantation High School students finished 1st in the final session of racing and 3rd overall in the Dell-Winston Solar Car Challenge – a closed track event at the Texas Motor Speedway. 

At its July 22, 2008 meeting, the School Board approved two very important new policies – the Anti-bullying Policy and the Environmental Stewardship Policy.  The Board recognized the seriousness of bullying and the negative impact of such behavior on teaching and learning.  The Anti-bullying Policy defines all forms of bullying, harassment, discrimination, cyberstalking and cyberbullying.  It makes it clear that bullying, in any form and by any person, is prohibited in Broward County Public School and provides for teachers, administrators and other staff members to receive comprehensive training on prevention and intervention strategies. 

The actions of a school district the size of Broward County Public Schools can have a profound impact on ecological systems and natural resources.  The District’s Environmental Stewardship Policy establishes a District-wide Environmental Strategic Plan to monitor sustainability, resource conservation and the implementation of environmental practices.  Its goal is to prevent or eliminate damage to our environment and protect the health and well-being of students and employees, both present and future.

West Broward High School

When Broward’s newest high school opened its doors on the first day of school in 2008, 1,900 students entered a school that epitomized the District’s vision statement – Educating Today’s Students for Tomorrow’s World.  West Broward High School in Pembroke Pines was constructed with the latest in technology built-in, including “live and interactive classrooms” equipped with LCDs, DVDs, modern sound systems, video camera, iPods, computers, and streaming video capabilities. One program unique to the school is Veterinary Assisting. Along with labs, students have an opportunity to work in an onsite surgical room.

Gaming repair technician training program

The beginning of the 2008/09 school year was also marked by the launch of a gaming repair technician training program at Sheridan Technical Center.  The Sheridan was the first center in the state to offer such a program.  With the addition of slot machines to local dog and horse racetracks in South Florida, the demand for trained technicians to maintain and repair the machines rose. Upon completion of the program, which also includes customer service training, individuals are ready for jobs as entry-level technicians.

Students have a new way to access textbooks for many of their courses.  A full complement of e-textbooks – both teacher and student editions – are available online through the Broward Enterprise Education Portal (BEEP).

All through the 2007/08 school year, schools geared-up for the presidential election of 2008.  Although civic education is a standard part of the K-12 social studies curriculum, the 2008 presidential election provided additional teaching and learning opportunities. In cooperation with Kids Voting Broward, students cast votes in both a primary and mock presidential election.

Gaming repair technician training program

On the day before Veterans Day, 2008, JROTC students at Pompano Beach High School held their third annual Special Flag Ceremony, in honor of the 4,780 servicemen and women who had, as of that date, lost their lives fighting the war on terror. The students posted a personalized flag on the school’s campus for each of the fallen heroes. The annual event draws students, teachers, dignitaries and guests, including the family members of the servicemen and servicewomen honored.

After winning the State School of Character Award, Wilton Manors Elementary School went on to win The Character Education Partnership’s 2008 National Schools of Character Award. It was the only Florida school to receive the honor.  The school was honored for its exemplary character education program that serves as a model for others across the state and nation.

In 2008, the District received the Outstanding Florida Homeless Education Program Award, presented by the Florida Homeless Education Program.  The award recognized homeless education liaisons, partners and advocates for the service they provided to children and youth experiencing homelessness during the 2007/08 school year.  With the downturn in the economy, the number of homeless students attending Broward County Public Schools has continued to rise.  At the end of the 2008/09 school year, over 1,800 students attending District schools were classified as homeless.

The School Board and the District were recipients of the first Award for Excellence in Financial Management in 2008.  The award is presented by the Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS).  The Office of the Chief Financial Officer was specifically singled-out by CGCS for it significant role in receiving the honor.

Bethune Elementary School received the 2008 Arts Innovation Award presented by Arts School Network. The school was singled-out for its We Are One program – a rigorous multicultural program driven by the performing and visual arts department.  The program helps students recognize the contributions made by their cultural origins as well as the value of the contributions of other cultures.

Broward County Public Schools earned an “A-“ grade for the quality of its school lunches in 2008 from The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). Each year, PCRM evaluates the nutritional value of meals served in the National School Lunch Program.

Taravella Band on CNN

J. P. Taravella High School’s Marching Trojans Band, led by Director of Bands Neil Jenkins and Assistant Band Director Cheldon Williams, was the only high school band from the state of Florida selected to perform in the 56th Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C.  The parade was held following in the swearing-in of President Barack Obama in January of 2009.

In 2009, the District initiated an Anonymous Tip Via Text Messaging Program as an added mechanism to keep students and staff safe.  Anyone can report a potentially dangerous situation or individual to District officials by sending a text message from their cell phone to CRIMES or 274637. The text messaging service is in addition to  the 24-hour, seven days a week telephone hotline (754-321-0911), E-mail (school911@browardschools.com) and the Internet (www.broward.k12.fl.us/siu/tips).

Five District high schools – Atlantic Technical Center, Nova, Pompano Beach, Stranahan and William T. McFatter – were named among the Best High Schools 2009 in an analysis conducted by U.S. News & World Report.  Selection was based on the key principles that a great high school must serve all its students well, not just those who are bound for college, and that it must produce measurable academic outcomes to show that the school is successfully educating its student body across a range of performance indicators.  All five Broward schools received silver medals, indicating that they are in the top 3% of high schools in the country.

An international delegation from Dubai visited Dillard High School in 2009.  The group from the Tourism Development and Investment Company representing the Abu Dhabi Educational Council was interested in modeling Dillard’s cultural arts program.  The daylong visit included student presentations and demonstrations and discussions about potential alliances and global partnerships.

In 2009, more than 200 Broward high school students viewed, live, open-heart surgery at Memorial Regional Hospital. Health and science students from six Broward high schools filled an auditorium at the hospital, while 300 more viewed the operation from their schools via videoconference.  The operating surgeon addressed students’ questions while he worked. This was the first time the hospital teamed-up with the District for such a project.

Parent involvement pays a key role in a student’s academic success and the District has always encouraged parent’s participation in educational process.  In 2009, the District launched a new Parent Involvement Web site.  The parent-friendly site makes it easy for parents to find the information they need to be informed and involved.  The site includes academic and support services information, news, dates to remember, policies, a frequently asked questions section and an E-mail link that enables parents to submit their comments or questions.  The site may be accessed by clicking on the “Parents” tab on the District Web site (www.browardschools.com).

BECON-TV, the District’s television station, became more accessible to the community in 2009.  BECON-TV is now available on DIRECTV, DISH Network and AT & T U-verse TV on channel 63 in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.  In addition, DIRECTV and DISH Network both carry BECON-TV in Palm Beach County. 

The District continues to look for innovative ways to reach out to the community and keep them informed.  In 2009, the District initiated a Twitter account.  Twitter, a social networking and messaging service, provides the District with an additional way to deliver information expediently and directly to students, parents and the community.  For more information, or to sign-up to “follow” the District, visit (www.twitter.com/browardschools) or the District’s Web site (www.browardschools.com).

In April 2009, the District learned that, for the second consecutive year, it had been selected as one of five finalists for the prestigious Broad Prize for Urban Education.  The award, the nation’s largest education prize, is presented by the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation and is considered to be the “Nobel Prize” in the field of public education.  The annual $2 million award honors urban school districts that demonstrate the greatest overall performance and improvement in student achievement, while reducing achievement gaps among ethnic groups and between low and other income students.

Broward did not win the top prize in 2008, but was named as a finalist for a second time in 2009 because new data analysis showed the District had continued to make gains.  The winner of The Broad Prize, to be announced September 16, 2009 in Washington, D.C., will receive $1 million in scholarships for high school seniors who will graduate in 2010.  The four finalist districts will each receive $250,000 in scholarships.

Later in April of 2009, the District was singled out for the seventh consecutive year by the Washington, D.C.- based Council of the Great City Schools in its annual Beating the Odds national report on urban education for, again, accelerating student achievement in reading and math beyond state averages.

North Central Area check presentation

Throughout the 2008/09 school year, Broward schools in the North Central Area took part in numerous fundraising events and projects with the goal of raising funds to build schools in Kenya. A school can be constructed in that country for only $8,500.  Students, teachers, administrators, support staff, parents and community members raised over $94,000, enough to build 11 schools.  One of the schools to be constructed will be in memory of Elgin Watts, Jr. who served the Broward Schools as assistant principal of Endeavour Primary Learning Center.

A team from South Plantation High School was one of only two in the nation to win the 2008/09 Lexus Eco Challenge.  The purpose of the competition, which is open to teams of middle and high school students across the U.S., is to encourage students to get involved in projects that help the environment.  The school’s EcoGeeks received $50,000 in scholarships by successfully completing three themed challenges in the areas of land, water, and air/climate and a final challenge.

During the 2008/09 school year Fort Lauderdale High School offered students an opportunity to graduate with some very specialized skills, thanks to a partnership with the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO).  The students trained to become 911 dispatchers.  BSO deputies came to the school every day to teach the course in conjunction with the school’s Magnet coordinator.  The students then took the Law Enforcement, Fire Dispatch and Emergency Medical Communications certification exams.

Also during 2009, Deerfield Beach Middle School was selected by Florida Power & Light Company as one of six schools in Florida to receive a cutting-edge solar power education station to help teach future generations about the benefits of renewable energy.  The school will receive a “Next Generation Solar Education Station” that will generate emissions-free electricity and provide students with a hands-on tool to learn how solar power works.

At its June 2, 2009 meeting, the School Board congratulated Pompano Beach High School for earning the Apple Distinguished School Award.  The award is presented to schools for their demonstrated success in implementing a 21st Century learning environment.  The school is the only high school in Florida, one of 18 in the nation, and one of only 35 schools worldwide to earn the award.

Therapy Dog visits classroom

Engagement Fair

For more than 12 years, the Animal Assisted Therapy Program has been functioning in Broward County Public Schools.  Therapy Dogs visit with students with autism and other students with learning disabilities.  The Wags & Tales Reading Program teams Therapy Dogs with students who may be hesitant to read out loud to their classmates or teacher, but feel comfortable reading to a “four-legged listener.”

In 2009, the District hosted its fourth Educational Engagement Fair in an ongoing outreach effort to help students who left high school before earning their diplomas.  The event was part of the District’s – it’s not too late to graduate” – campaign. Participants received valuable information about relevant educational options available to meet their specific needs, including assistance, counseling, placement and training focused on attaining a high school diploma or GED (General Equivalency Diploma).

Many economists point to March 2007 as the date the country entered a recession. Since that time, home values across the state have plummeted while unemployment has continued to rise.  The economy, coupled with cuts in state funding of education, has had a major impact on school districts across Florida, including Broward County Public Schools.

To reduce operating costs and increase efficiency, on July 1, 2009 the District was restructured.  Instead of four Area Offices, the District now has three – the North, Central and South Areas, each with an Area Superintendent at its helm.  In addition, several District departments were combined.

Even though the District is dealing with an extremely difficult financial situation, the School Board and the Superintendent remain dedicated to continuing to provide a quality education to every student.

In the summer of 2009, Broward County Public Schools received an “A” for the third time in four years under the state’s A++ Plan for Education.

With over 280 schools, centers and charter schools and over 255,000 students, Broward County Public Schools is the sixth largest school district in the nation, and the largest fully accredited district in the country.