Acknowledging public schools that have sustained high student performance or demonstrated substantial improvement in student performance, Governor Rick Scott today presented checks totaling more than $14.2 million in School Recognition Program funding to districts in the West Palm Beach area. Indian River, Martin, Palm Beach and St. Lucie school districts can use their award dollars for faculty or staff bonuses, to purchase educational equipment or materials, or hire temporary staff to help maintain or improve student performance. Statewide, school recognition funding totals more than $134 million.
Governor Scott said, "Florida students and teachers were ranked 6th for educational quality, our fourth-grade students scored among the best in the world in an international reading survey, and we recently learned Florida students are number one for percentage of students taking an AP exam. In conjunction with our proposed $1.2 billion in educational funding as part of the Florida Families First Budget, the school recognition funding will allow our teachers and students to continue on their path of success."
Florida's School Recognition Program acknowledges the quality of public schools by giving financial rewards based on sustained or significantly improved student achievement in reading, mathematics, science and writing. Schools eligible for recognition awards include those receiving an "A" school grade, improving at least one letter grade from the previous year, or improving more than one letter grade and sustaining the improvement the following school year. Alternative schools that increase their school improvement rating or are rated "improving" also qualify for awards. The school staff and school advisory council at each recognized school jointly decide how to use the financial award.
"Governor Scott understands that rewarding schools for performance promotes even higher achievement," said Commissioner of Education Dr. Tony Bennett. "His Florida Families First budget calls for an even larger commitment to the School Recognition Program."
As part of his Florida Families First Budget, Governor Scott requested an increase in School Recognition Program funding to $125 per student, up from $93 this year. State funding for K-12 education in the Florida Families First Budget totals $10.7 billion -- the highest state funding level in history. Included in this historic total is $480 million to support $2,500 pay raises for Florida's K-12 classroom teachers, plus the cost of associated benefits.
Total funding for K-12 education in the Florida Families First budget is $18.47 billion, an increase of $1.25 billion, or 7.3 percent, over last year's budget, which also invested $1 billion in K-12 education. This increase represents per student funding of $6,799, an increase of more than $400 over the current fiscal year.
"School Recognition Program funding is a valuable investment in high-performing schools," said St. Lucie County Deputy District School Superintendent Genelle Yost. "St. Lucie County Schools' devoted leaders, teachers, and staff are all deserving recipients of this funding by leading our students to higher achievement levels. We are grateful that Governor Scott has included additional funding for this program in his Florida Families First Budget."
"I am so pleased that nearly 1,700 schools have met or exceeded the high standards set by Florida's School Recognition Program," said Florida State Board of Education Member Barbara Feingold. "This extra funding will allow school leaders to focus on implementing lasting reforms focused on creating classrooms overflowing with student success. Governor Scott recognizes that rewarding high performance encourages schools to go even further."
Before an audience of educators and community leaders, Governor Scott presented the checks to representatives from the four school districts at Wynnebrook Elementary School in Palm Beach County. Although nearly nine out of ten students at Wynnebrook are considered economically disadvantaged, the school has earned an "A" grade for the past ten years.
"These schools are getting it right, because they are focusing on how to better prepare today's students for tomorrow's competitive workforce," said Florida State Board of Education Member John Padget. "I am proud that we are able to support Florida's best schools with this additional funding program and will work to support Governor Scott's budget proposal to increase future funding."
The total amount of school recognition funding announced today is $14,202,101.
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT TOTAL $1,102,670
Vero Beach High School 256,818
Rosewood Magnet School 51,542
Osceola Magnet School 52,564
Beachland Elementary School 55,766
Gifford Middle School 88,692
Vero Beach Elementary School 55,748
Sebastian River High School 172,638
Liberty Magnet School 51,262
Treasure Coast Elementary School 59,473
Storm Grove Middle School 76,002
Indian River Charter High School 58,182
St. Peter's Academy 12,922
North County Charter School 18,751
Sebastian Charter Junior High School 16,467
Imagine Schools At South Vero 75,843
MARTIN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT TOTAL $1,376,338
Stuart Middle School 86,881
Sea Wind Elementary School 67,440
Martin County High School 183,775
Palm City Elementary School 60,063
Murray Middle School 69,264
Hobe Sound Elementary School 62,478
Warfield Elementary School 65,535
Jensen Beach Elementary School 53,443
Indiantown Middle School 39,134
South Fork High School 169,730
Crystal Lake Elementary School 49,834
Hidden Oaks Middle School 101,406
Bessey Creek Elementary School 49,420
Jensen Beach High School 152,532
Dr. David L. Anderson Middle School 89,056
Citrus Grove Elementary 56,243
Clark Advanced Learning Center 20,104
PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT TOTAL $10,436,226
Hidden Oaks Elementary School 83,120
Waters Edge Elementary School 78,687
Pine Jog Elementary School 79,797
Everglades Elementary 69,225
Jupiter Elementary School 64,247
Jupiter High School 254,560
Allamanda Elementary School 60,544
Palm Beach Gardens Elementary School 62,087
North Palm Beach Elementary School 35,504
Suncoast Community High School 138,925
Sunset Palms Elementary School 88,610
Roosevelt Middle School 113,671
U.B. Kinsey/Palmview Elementary 47,499
Alexander W. Dreyfoos Junior School Of The Arts 119,573
Palm Beach Public School 35,277
Palmetto Elementary School 56,762
South Olive Elementary School 63,009
Meadow Park Elementary School 63,961
Berkshire Elementary School 101,033
Palm Springs Middle School 142,124
Marsh Pointe Elementary 75,059
North Grade Elementary School 71,931
Lantana Middle School 72,268
Rolling Green Elementary School 72,905
Turning Points Academy 9,989
Atlantic High School 197,227
Plumosa School Of The Arts 52,896
S. D. Spady Elementary School 50,531
J. C. Mitchell Elementary School 71,450
Boca Raton Elementary School 32,650
Boca Raton Community High School 275,053
Gove Elementary School 84,099
Wynnebrook Elementary School 73,840
West Riviera Elementary School 46,644
Hagen Road Elementary School 81,592
Addison Mizner Elementary School 88,675
Boca Raton Community Middle School 121,696
Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary School 52,435
South Tech Academy 117,319
Santaluces Community High 208,492
Jerry Thomas Elementary School 79,769
Verde Elementary School 80,274
Spanish River Community High School 216,877
Crestwood Community Middle 108,634
Wellington Landings Middle 120,483
Jupiter Middle School 122,316
Del Prado Elementary School 93,357
Loggers' Run Community Middle School 98,932
H. L. Johnson Elementary School 84,239
Pahokee Middle-Senior High 87,343
Whispering Pines Elementary School 51,495
Royal Palm School 34,559
Coral Sunset Elementary School 63,364
Christa Mcauliffe Middle School 117,547
K. E. Cunningham/Canal Point Elementary 29,246
Banyan Creek Elementary School 94,682
Loxahatchee Groves Elementary 56,031
Calusa Elementary School 77,543
Woodlands Middle School 114,278
Lighthouse Elementary School 77,534
Cypress Trails Elementary School 49,722
Morikami Park Elementary School 75,620
Sandpiper Shores Elementary School 74,683
Watson B. Duncan Middle School 128,695
Omni Middle School 146,038
Park Vista Community High School 263,024
Timber Trace Elementary School 81,175
Limestone Creek Elementary School 77,426
New Horizons Elementary School 55,226
Citrus Cove Elementary School 91,081
Hammock Pointe Elementary School 78,924
Jupiter Farms Elementary School 56,219
Egret Lake Elementary School 57,270
Crystal Lakes Elementary School 54,063
Acreage Pines Elementary School 40,257
Okeeheelee Middle School 131,544
Panther Run Elementary School 73,130
Wellington High School 217,500
William T. Dwyer High School 207,379
Manatee Elementary School 97,965
Orchard View Elementary School 54,000
Belle Glade Elementary School 47,676
Indian Ridge School 9,000
Golden Grove Elementary School 52,502
Western Pines Community Middle 109,728
Eagles Landing Middle School 122,166
Dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune Elementary 46,227
Bak Middle School Of The Arts 126,079
Beacon Cove Intermediate School 88,191
Frontier Elementary School 62,648
Binks Forest Elementary School 99,463
Coral Reef Elementary School 92,328
Odyssey Middle School 93,429
Polo Park Middle School 101,544
Independence Middle School 121,106
Palm Beach Central High School 258,490
Joseph Littles-Nguzo Saba 19,707
Freedom Shores Elementary School 86,205
Sunrise Park Elementary School 83,639
Don Estridge High Tech Middle School 114,313
Discovery Key Elementary School 84,991
Crosspointe Elementary School 69,740
Royal Palm Beach Elementary School 67,497
Cholee Lake Elementary School 89,290
Palm Beach Maritime Academy 33,910
Osceola Creek Middle School 77,301
Pierce Hammock Elementary School 58,316
Western Academy Charter School 34,656
Crossroads Academy 13,565
Equestrian Trails Elementary 74,471
Elbridge Gale Elementary School 92,974
Emerald Cove Middle School 108,167
Glades Academy Elementary School Inc 9,935
G-Star School Of The Arts 100,751
Seminole Ridge Community High School 230,782
Palm Beach Virtual Franchise 21,029
FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH SCHOOL -- PALM BEACH $66,772
ST. LUCIE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT TOTAL $1,087,924
Fairlawn Elementary School 57,145
Frances K. Sweet Elementary School 56,346
Lincoln Park Academy 166,264
St. Lucie West K-8 School 119,836
Fort Pierce Westwood High School 113,487
Port St. Lucie High School 174,183
Parkway Elementary School 52,740
St. Lucie West Centennial High 225,352
West Gate K-8 School 122,571
FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH SCHOOL -- ST. LUCIE $132,171
About the Florida Department of Education: The department's mission is to increase the proficiency of all students within one seamless, efficient education system by providing them the chance to expand their knowledge and skills through world-class learning opportunities. Serving more than 3.5 million students, 4,200 public schools, 28 colleges, 188,000 teachers, 47,000 college professors and administrators, and 318,000 individuals who work in education throughout the state, the department enhances the economic self-sufficiency of Floridians through programs and services geared toward college, workforce education, job-specific skills, and career development. Florida ranks first in the nation for teacher quality, first in the nation in advanced placement participation, and first in the southern region for graduation rate and degrees awarded by the Florida College System. For more information, visit www.fldoe.org.
Source: http://www.flgov.com/governor-scott-presents-14-2-million-in-school-recognition-checks-to-school-districts-in-west-palm-beach-area/
