Superintendent’s Corner

In the next few months before the school year ends, I want to highlight a number of approaches the district is taking to help ensure we are staying true to our mission of “serving every student with excellence as the standard.” Currently, there are a multitude of services being provided by our experienced and dedicated staff to help your child to succeed this school year.

These beneficial services focus on everything from helping students to do their best in school with a student-centered philosophy of promotion and retention, to offering the most comprehensive and substantial summer school program ever available in this district. Our goal is to provide multiple opportunities for advancement and remediation in the best possible learning environment for your child to achieve his or her maximum potential.

Many parents are concerned that the FCAT test is the only means by which a student in Brevard will be promoted or retained. However, our philosophy and practice has always been and will continue to be making promotion and retention decisions in the best interest of each student. Even if a child scores a level 1 on the FCAT, if he/she is meeting all the necessary performance standards, then a teacher can recommend to the principal that the child be promoted to the next grade level. While the FCAT test is an important factor in making an appropriate determination, it is not the only one.

Each student’s demonstration of achievement throughout the year, as well as prior year FCAT results, needs to be taken into account. This definitive policy is based on sound judgment by the school staff and is meant to create a positive learning environment for your child. When making decisions to retain a child, we are simply trying to be sure the student has demonstrated mastery of the essential skills necessary to go on to the more difficult material at the next grade level. It should also reflect the child’s performance for the entire year, not just a score on one test.

To assist our students and ensure they have an excellent chance to improve their mathematics and reading ability, we encourage all students who are currently below grade level to enroll in the comprehensive Summer Opportunities for Advancement and Remediation program, better known as SOAR. SOAR is a great way for struggling students to have extra time to learn before school starts again in the fall.

This summer, Brevard Public Schools is offering a full array of remedial services for our students, along with a number of new challenging courses being added at SOAR schools for enrichment. Students eligible to attend the remedial program will be notified by their school. General information regarding academic programs and enrichment opportunities can be found on our Web site.

As a parent, it is important for you to take advantage of SOAR. Students can improve their skills in many subjects with targeted instruction. Others can make up courses they weren’t able to pass due to illness and many more will have the opportunity to enjoy the great selection of fun courses we have to offer such as Art Explosion, Keyboarding, Science Enrichment, Let’s Travel! Vamos a viajar! Driver’s Education and much more.

Our expectations for SOAR are that students will be given a chance to explore topics and courses in depth that they would not normally be able to take during the academic school year. Please take the time to review the complete listing of these enrichment classes, with dates, times, and fees contained in this issue and sign your child up to SOAR over the summer.