Announcing the “Public School Choice: From Research to Practice” Webcast
On November 19th, 2008 from 3:00 - 4:30pm EST, the United States Department of Education will sponsor a session entitled "Public School Choice: From Research to Practice" at the Florida Public School Choice Consortium (FPSCC) Annual Conference on November 18-19, 2008 at the Education Center at Nova Southeastern University in Orlando at the Millennia Mall location. The FPSCC Annual Conference will be held before the annual Florida Charter School Conference at the Doubletree Universal in Orlando, Florida. Read more »
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Statewide School Choice Parent Advisory Council FormedOn September 17th, the first conference call meeting of the newly formed “Statewide School Choice Parent Advisory Council” (PAC) occurred. This is a new resource for parents which will provide information, options for feedback, mentoring and assistance with all Choice options. The statewide committee is the first step in establishing a three tiered support structure which will include regional and local advisory committees. This statewide group, composed of School Choice stakeholders including parents, school district Choice leaders, and others with a special interest in School Choice, will be a resource to share information with and gather feedback from parents throughout the state for issues and concerns related to School Choice. Read more » |
Announcing the new Executive Director for the FLDOE Office of Independent Education and Parental ChoicePlease extend a warm welcome to Michael Kooi, the new Executive Director for the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice. Mike is the former executive director with the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools. Prior to the Consortium and worked for the Florida House of Representatives as the policy chief. Read more » |
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Parent Resource Center News: Reaching Out to Parents In The CommunityIn August 2nd, 2008 the Florida School Choice Parent Resource Center program took part in the 2nd Freewill Baptist Church Back-to-School event again this year to the parents in the Opa Locka area. We were able to provide 100 book bags to parents and children who attended the event. Most of the students were from low performing schools like; Carol City Elementary, County Club, Brentwood Elementary, and schools in the Norland area. The event was well attended and several community organizations were present and gave out very helpful information. Several parents were not familiar with School Choice and each parent received school choice information and a flyer with the locations of the all the Parent Resource Centers. We were invited to come to the church during the Fall to provide a workshop to parents about School Choice options. Read more » |
Florida Association of Charter School AuthorizersThe Florida Association of Charter School Authorizers (FACSA) meet on September 11, 2008 to discuss key issues related to charter school authorizing. During this meeting, the important topic of the newly approved Florida Differentiated Accountability Model was discussed as it relates to district authorizers and those charter schools they sponsor who are in correct action and fall under this model. |
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Gadsden County Parent Resource Center Mobile Unit Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting CeremonyOn Wednesday, August 27th, 2008 at 5:30 p.m., I took part in the Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the new Gadsden County Parent Resource Center Mobile Unit at the school board’s Transportation Department in Quincy, Florida. Superintendent of Gadsden County, Reginald James, school board members, Charlie Frost and Roger Milton, Grant Manager of Florida’s Voluntary Public School Choice Program, Yolanda Miranda-Hill, and myself were chosen for the honor of cutting the golden ribbon that signified and symbolized the importance of this pilot project. Acting Executive Director of the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice at the Florida Department of Education Jean Miller and Assistant Director of the National Institute for Educational Options at Nova Southeastern University Nigel Whyte were also in attendance showing their support for this groundbreaking event, as well as over 300 parents and 50 children. Read more » |
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Florida’s VPSC Grant Project: Year Two
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Polk County's Voluntary Public School Choice ProjectPolk County Public Schools was awarded the Voluntary Public School Choice grant to create and maintain a powerful coalition of school districts which will share resources and best practices to intensely focus on increasing choice options for all students with an emphasis on low performing, disengaged and disenfranchised secondary school students. The project includes primary partnerships between Polk, Osceola and Hillsborough Counties as well as expanded partnerships to also include Indian River, Lake, Manatee, Orange, Pasco and Sumter Counties. The project focuses on assuring academic success for students via expanded district choice options, interdistrict agreements and career academies at traditional public, choice and charter schools. Read more » |
Voluntary Public School Choice – Hillsborough County
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Career and Technical VPSC Partnership Grant Announced - Palm Beach County
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Judy's Journal
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Professional Development Buzz
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Year One of the five-year Florida Voluntary Public School Choice (VPSC) grant has come to an end. Projects facilitated during this first year included: 1) two new School Choice parent resource centers (PRCs), 2) three proposed interdistrict agreement models, and 3) twelve statewide appointed School Choice Parent Advisory Council (SCPAC) members. Collaborative efforts through the partnerships with Nova Southeastern University (NSU) and the primary districts of Hillsborough, Palm Beach and Polk, have added value to the VPSC grant. Their impact on students in lower-performing schools will be more significant as each VPSC project increases the opportunity for acquiring a high-quality education. 
Palm Beach Public Schools was awarded funds through Voluntary Public School Choice (VPSC) to expand and enhance successful choice options through interdistrict partnership with Monroe County. The interdistrict agreement has been drafted, written, and signed by the Principal of Marathon High School, the Manager of Career Education and the Instructional Support Specialists from Palm Beach and Monroe counties. The purpose of this agreement is to implement the West Boca Raton Model Culinary Career Choice Academy at Marathon High School. 
As a new school year begins fitfully due to declining enrollment in many districts and budget cuts because of state revenue, we must remember that students expect a happy and productive year and will need our support and love. We are pleased to continue our work with the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), which was funded as one of three grants in the State of Florida (Miami-Dade and Hillsborough counties also were funded) among only fourteen grants in the nation under the Voluntary Public School Choice (VPSC) program for 2007-2012.
In these times of extremely limited resources, school districts are struggling to provide effective professional development to their staff. There are some promising practices for optimizing the dollars spent to keep innovations moving ahead and help teachers deal with increased workloads and limited prep time. NIEO professional development services can be provide regional services in a multidistrict approach that encompasses many schools with similar goals and issues. Weekends, after school and during prep professional development are common ways to lower the travel and substitute costs. Granting college credit, as well as continuing education credit, can help teachers maximize their time and gain the most rewards. 
- 2008 Coalition of Essential Schools Fall Forum
- 2008 Florida Charter School Conference
- 2008 FPSCC’s Annual State Conference
- 2008 National Career Academy Coalition Conference
- 2009 Magnet Schools of America Charlotte Conference
- 2009 Career Academies on the Hill Conference
- Dates to Remember
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- Learning Elementary
- Learning Gate Community School
- Our Children's Academy
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- Coral Reef - Miami’s Mega Magnet School
- Coral Reef Senior High National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
- Coral Reef Senior High National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
- Design and Architecture Senior High School
- Princeton Elementary
- Robinswood Middle School
- Roosevelt Magnet Middle School
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