FoCuS: The Future of Collier Created by Us

Students graduating from Collier County Public Schools will demonstrate:

Academic skills:

-Integrate knowledge and essential skills with critical thinking skills to address issues and solve problems.

-Demonstrate understanding of a body of essential knowledge based on a well-rounded, balanced curriculum that addresses intellectual, physical, emotional and social competence.

-Show critical appreciation for all arts.

-Combine cultural and historical perspectives with personal knowledge.

-Appreciate cultural and physical similarities and differences.

-Communicate effectively in a foreign language.

-Participate in life-long learning.

Communications skills:

-Receive and present information effectively through listening, reading, writing, speaking, technology, and non-verbal communication skills.

-Use a wide variety of materials to represent information.

-Work effectively independently and in collaborative and cooperative groups.

Character traits:

-Demonstrate citizenship.

-Strive for continuous self-improvement.

-Show respect.

-Demonstrate responsibility.

-Exhibit kindness.

-Express honesty.

-Display self-discipline.

-Commit to the community.

-Become involved in the community.

-Demonstrate flexible leadership skills, knowing when to lead and when to follow.

-Possess a social and cultural conscious.

-Be open-minded/flexible.

-Be self-confident.

-Demonstrate individual and social responsibility.

-Compete appropriately.

-Differentiate between fact and fiction.

-Set goals and be self-directed.

-Maintain a global perspective.

-Be self-motivated.

-Collaborate appropriately.

Each school in Collier County will:

Employ highly qualified staffs who consistently adhere to professional standards.

Offer a comprehensive curriculum that meets or exceeds the (Florida) Sunshine State Standards.

Set a high level of expectations for student achievement and assess the accomplishment of these expectations.

Include the entire school community, such as parents, community, students, teachers, and staff in the decision-making process.

Support preschool programs, which fulfill all the components of school readiness:

-Provide appropriate learning opportunities for all students, including reasonable accessibility of staff for academic support.

-Develop and enforce standards of discipline and school policies that promote a safe, positive teaching/learning environment.

-Participate in professional development activities.

-Model character traits and communication skills expected of students.

-Provide opportunities for parent involvement and parent education.

-Establish a positive relationship with the community.

-Provide an environment conducive to teaching/learning.

Set high standards and expectations for students:

-Set high personal expectations and take responsibility for learning.

-Meet high academic standards.

-Demonstrate character traits and communication skills.

-Adhere to standards of discipline that promote a safe, positive teaching/learning environment free of disruption.

-Be actively involved in the school and the community.

Set high standards and expectations for parents:

-Participate in collaborative decision-making.

Become involved in classrooms and school activities.

-Support standards of discipline and school policies that promote a safe and positive teaching/learning environment free of disruption.

-Model character traits and communication skills expected of students, staff, teachers and administration.

Provide meaningful instructional practices:

-Inspire and motivate students to learn.

-Use an integrated/interdisciplinary approach, including the arts, where appropriate.

-Make learning meaningful and relevant for students.

-Build on strengths of each student.

-Provide appropriate learning materials.

-Utilize technology as a learning tool.

Model continuous improvement:

-Create a shared vision.

-Conduct annual self-evaluation using specified criteria.

-Establish communities of learners.

The Collier County Public School District shall provide direction and support for all schools and will support development and delivery of curriculum:

-Set standards and provide direction for implementation of the curriculum.

-Inculcate throughout the curriculum at all levels the freedom, rights and responsibilities of being an American citizen.

-Support preschool programs that fulfill all the components of school readiness.

-Provide research necessary to review effectiveness of current programs and provide ongoing improvement.

-Provide adequate staff development and training for effective delivery of the curriculum.

-Support an on-going technology plan, including staff training.

-Provide direction for the integration of all disciplines, including the arts, at all levels.

-Understand and consider the needs of the business community.

-Provide assessment strategies and resources to measure student achievement.

-Monitor the effectiveness of the progress of each school toward improved student achievement.

Provide administrative support for schools:

-Streamline procedures for meeting national state and district requirements.

-Commit to and model continuous improvements.

-Provide resources for schools to establish communities of learners.

-Listen to and understand perspectives of Collier County Public Schools Personnel.

-Practice valuing diversity.

-Provide opportunities to enable students to make appropriate educational/career choices.

Continue to develop relationships with the community:

-Share information with public.

-Listen to and understand perspectives of community members and organizations.

-Utilize community resources of time, money, and experience.

The Collier County Community shall provide support for all schools and will:

-Promote and support education as a community priority.

-Make the children of Collier County and the preparation for their future a priority.

-Promote and support the schools and district.

-Support preschool programs, which fulfill all the components of school readiness.

-Support programs for children with unique needs.

-Value academics and the arts as much as athletics.

-Understand the value of extracurricular academic activities.

-Accept/promote/assist assessments that measure high expectations/standards.

-Participate in public relations campaigns fostering the value of education to the community.

-Encourage the most qualified individuals to serve on the School Board.

-Promote and provide adequate funding.

Be actively involved in the school district and school:

-Provide mentors for students, teachers, and administrators.

-Enter into partnerships.

-Promote volunteerism.

-Attract/support/facilitate entry of qualified personnel for our schools and district.

-Provide opportunities to enable students to make appropriate educational/career choices.

-Offer job opportunities.

-Be aware of and support the needs of working students.

-Place an employment value on student academic record and attendance.

-Understand goals/objectives/activities of the schools and the district.

-Provide access to resources.