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Redefining Schools for a New Era
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Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is changing to better serve its students and community. Factors such as under-enrollment, population changes, and increased competition require the District to think differently about how and where it operates schools. As school districts across the nation face similar challenges, we commit to making the District more innovative and responsive to changing educational needs.
Redefining BCPS will involve community input, data analysis, and creative thinking. Strategies may include adding new programs, combining schools, boundary adjustments, school closures, and repurposing schools to expand community services. There will be many opportunities for the community to provide input throughout the planning process.
Join BCPS on this transformation to positively impact schools and the greater community.
Initiative Update
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Join Us for the Broward Estates Community Meeting!
The Broward County Public Schools team invites you to a community discussion about transforming Broward Estates Elementary School into an Early Learning Center. Together, we can create a brighter future for our youngest learners. For additional details, see the flyer below.Broward Estates Community Meeting {Español | Kreyòl Ayisyen | Portuguese}
Previous Community Conversations and Town Halls
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School Proposal Considerations for 2024/25
Pursuant to the direction given by the School Board to the Superintendent at the October 8, 2024, and November 6, 2024, School Board Workshops, the proposals listed below are being considered in the 2024-2025 Redefining Broward Schools process. All final actions taken by the School Board are effective for the 2025-2026 school year.
- Broward Estates Elementary and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Montessori Academy: Consolidate Broward Estates Elementary into Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a K-5 school; create an Early Learning Center at Broward Estates Map | FAQs
- Coconut Creek Elementary: Reconfigure as a K-8 school Map | FAQs
- Coral Cove Elementary: Reconfigure as a K-8 schools Map | FAQs
- Silver Lakes Elementary, Silver Shores Elementary, and Silver Palms Elementary: Consolidate Silver Shores Elementary into Silver Lakes Elementary and Silver Palms Elementary; create a full choice (non-boundary) K-5 or K-8 (TBD) school at Silver Shores Elementary Map | FAQs
- Hollywood Central Elementary: Reconfigure as a K-8 school Map | FAQs
- Pines Middle: Reconfigure as a 6-12 school Map | FAQs
The middle schools listed below are being invited to participate in the conversations as they may be impacted by any reconfiguration of their feeder elementary school grade expansions.
- Lyons Creek Middle and Margate Middle regarding the proposed K-8 at Coconut Creek Elementary
- Olsen Middle regarding the proposed K-8 at Hollywood Central Elementary
- Glades Middle and New Renaissance Middle regarding the proposed K-8 at Coral Cove Elementary
- Glades Middle regarding the proposed K-8 at Silver Shores Elementary
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Previous Community Conversations and Town Hall Meetings
- Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 6 p.m. – Fort Lauderdale High School
Watch February 8, 2024 Community Conversations about Redefining our Schools - Thursday, February 15, 2024, at 6 p.m. – J.P. Taravella High School
Watch February 15, 2024 Community Conversations about Redefining our Schools - Thursday, February 22, 2024, at 6 p.m. – Charles W. Flanagan High School
Watch February 22, 2024 Community Conversations about Redefining our Schools - The District held seven Town Hall meetings from April 29 until May 9.
Watch April 30, 2024, Town Hall Redefining our Schools presentation | Watch April 30, 2024 Town Hall About Redefining our Schools Presentation - Wednesday, August 7, 2024 – City Manager/Mayoral Roundtable
Initiative Update - July 18, 2024 | June 18, 2024 - Monday, September 16, 2024 – Dillard 6-12 High School
Schools Discussed: Broward Estates, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Larkdale, Lauderhill Paul Turner, and Westwood Heights
Presentation | Recording - Tuesday, September 17, 2024 – Fort Lauderdale High School
Schools Discussed: Bennett, North Fork, North Side, Thurgood Marshall, and Walker
Presentation | Recording - Wednesday, September 18, 2024 – Coconut Creek High School
Schools Discussed: Dr. Charles Drew, Coconut Creek, and Liberty
Presentation | Recording - Thursday, September 19, 2024 – Piper High School
Schools Discussed: Bair, Plantation, and Westpine
Presentation | Recording - Monday, September 23, 2024 – Everglades High School
Schools Discussed: Chapel Trail, Dolphin Bay, Panther Run, Silver Lakes, Silver Palms, Silver Shores, and Sunset Lakes
Presentation | Recording - Wednesday, September 25, 2024 – Charles W. Flanagan High School
Schools Discussed: Elementary Schools: Coconut Palm, Coral Cove, Palm Cove, Pasadena Lakes, and Pines Lakes
Middle Schools: Driftwood, Glades, New Renaissance, Pines, and Walter C. Young
Presentation | Recording - Monday, September 30, 2024 – South Broward High School
Schools Discussed: Elementary Schools: Collins, Hollywood Central, and Dr. Mary M. Bethune
Middle Schools: Attucks, McNicol, and Olsen
Presentation | Recording - Tuesday, October 01, 2024 – Miramar High School
Schools Discussed: Fairway, Miramar, Sunshine, and Watkins
Presentation | Recording - Monday, November 18, 2024 – Broward Estates Elementary
Schools Discussed: Broward Estates, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Montessori Academy
Presentation | Recording - Tuesday, November 19, 2024 – Pines Middle School
Schools Discussed: Coral Cove, Hollywood Central, Silver Lakes, Silver Palms, Silver Shores, and Pines
Presentation | Recording - Wednesday, November 20, 2024 – Coconut Creek Elementary
Schools Discussed: Coconut Creek Elementary
Presentation | Recording
- Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 6 p.m. – Fort Lauderdale High School
School Board
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School Board Workshops and Meetings
Redefining our Schools is a priority for the School Board of Broward County, FL. The Board has directed staff to evaluate the need and engage the community in developing recommendations.
See the tentative Board meeting schedule below, which is subject to change.
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School Board Workshops
School Board Workshops are non-voting meetings where the Board discusses education matters. Members of the public are encouraged to provide input virtually or in-person to inform the Board’s discussion.
- Wednesday, March 20, 2024 – Redefining our Schools Part 1 (Presentation | Enrollment and Demographic Data)
- Tuesday, May 14, 2024 – Redefining our Schools Part 2 (Presentation)
- Wednesday, May 29, 2024 – Redefining our Schools (Presentation)
- Tuesday, August 27, 2024 – Redefining our Schools (Presentation | Exhibits 1-3)
- Tuesday, September 17, 2024 – Redefining our Schools (Presentation)
- Tuesday, October 8, 2024 – Redefining our Schools (Presentation | School Boundary Committee Resolution)
- Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - Redefining our Schools (Presentation)
- Tuesday, December 10, 2024 - Redefining our Schools (Presentation)
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School Board Meeting
The Board will review and vote on the Redefining our Schools proposal at a June School Board Meeting (date to be determined).
- Tuesday, April 16, 2024 – Redefining our Schools Update (Presentation)
- Tuesday, October 15, 2024 – Redefining our School Resolution (Resolution RR-1)
- Wednesday, January 22, 2025 - SBBC approved six Redefining Our School Proposals (2024-2025 Proposals)
FAQs: Redefining Our Schools
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Why now?
Broward County Public Schools is under-enrolled by nearly 50,000 students (including centers but excluding portables), this number signifies the amount of vacant seats relative to the District's permanent capacity, with future enrollment expected to further decline. Simply put, the District is operating more schools than it has students to fill. This creates a resource drain that negatively impacts students attending under-enrolled schools. Redefining our Schools is about ensuring schools are properly resourced to provide high-quality instruction and enrichment for every student in every classroom across the District.
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What types of changes will be considered?
School districts across the country are using a range of strategies to address declining enrollment. The approaches listed below are some common strategies. Broward County Public Schools will research the applicability of these options along with other ways to better serve students and the community.
- Combining schools: Merge two under-enrolled schools to provide better instructional resources. Examples could include combining two elementary schools, creating a K-8 or 6-12 or other grade configurations.
- Repurposing schools: Convert all or part of a school to provide specialized educational or community services. Examples could include an education center (i.e., career & technical, early learning, special education), health services, dental services, workforce training, senior services, youth programming, recreational spaces and more.
- Leasing or selling: Lease or sell District properties to address other community needs, such as affordable housing
- Closing schools: Should a school close, the District will ensure students are re-assigned to another school where their educational needs can be better met.
- School boundary changes: Change the school attendance zone by adding or removing neighborhoods assigned to a specific school.
- Combining schools: Merge two under-enrolled schools to provide better instructional resources. Examples could include combining two elementary schools, creating a K-8 or 6-12 or other grade configurations.
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Which schools will be impacted?
There is not a predetermined list of schools. The District has committed to getting input from the community first before making recommendations about specific schools.
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What factors will be evaluated?
Redefining our Schools will involve a range of considerations, including data and community input, to ensure recommendations are equitable. Additional factors may be identified through District and community planning. Please note: The District is in the process of comprehensively analyzing data. No single data point will drive decision-making on possible school changes.
Factor
Data Resources
Description
Enrollment
List of schools under 70% of capacity utilization
Enrollment
Enrollment trends, and percentage of: over or under school enrollment capacity; in-boundary and out of boundary; exceptional student education programs; and preschool classes.
Enrollment
Student Enrollment Counts
Enrollment
Residing Students by City Attending and Not Attending Their Home Boundary Schools
Enrollment
School benchmark, enrollment, capacity and diversity
Enrollment of Surrounding Schools
Private school reports
Enrollment of Surrounding Schools
Other choice reports
Competitive Analysis of Non-District Schools
Under development
TBD
Neighborhood Demographics
Enrollment statistics, trends, and research about residents of Broward County
Facility Conditions
Facility condition assessment in progress
Assessment of structures, building envelopes, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems and roofs.
School Performance
School grades, graduation rate, advanced placement, attendance, discipline and more.
School Operational Costs
Under development
TBD
Survey Data
Under development
TBD
Initial Redefining Criteria
This spreadsheet provides data across all schools Districtwide for key consideration criteria, including but not limited to school enrollment, capacity, performance, historical significance, and facility concerns. This data sheds light on areas needing attention, potential resource challenges, and potential opportunities for restructuring. However, no single data point drives decision-making, and the district is committed to ensuring recommendations are equitable.
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When will changes take place?
Redefining BCPS is a multi-year process. In June, the School Board of Broward County will vote on short-term opportunities to right-size the District. No changes will be made for the 2024-25 school year, as additional planning will be required to ensure changes meet community needs.
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What are the partnership opportunities?
Redefining BCPS will take the entire community. BCPS seeks to partner to offer specialized education programs, work-based learning experiences, affordable housing and enhanced community and health services. If you are interested in becoming a partner, please email redefiningbcps@browardschools.com