TALLAHASSEE, Fla. /Florida Newswire/ — On Monday, Florida Governor Rick Scott acknowledged Broward County’s public schools that sustained high student performance or demonstrated substantial improvement in student performance by presenting a check totaling more than $15 million in School Recognition Program funding to Superintendent Robert W. Runcie. The check presentation was made before an audience of educators and community leaders at Piper High School in the City of Sunrise. Schools 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 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.
“We are pleased that Governor Rick Scott made a special visit to Broward County to recognize our outstanding schools, teachers and staff with more than $15 million in school recognition funds, said Broward County Schools Superintendent Robert W. Runcie. “The School Recognition Program rewards our best teachers and I am proud to say that Broward has many in this category. Governor Scott’s Florida Families First Budget proposal to increase funding for a program that directly benefits our dedicated teachers and staff is commendable.”
“We are excited that Governor Scott is visiting Broward County and recognizing our teachers and staff for their dedication and commitment to improved student achievement,” said Broward School Board Member Katie Leach. “The School Recognition Program rewards people who are going above and beyond in the classroom and instilling the value of life-long learning in our students. I support Governor Rick Scott’s Florida Families First Budget and his proposal to increase funding for this most worthwhile program. I look forward to working with local and statewide education stakeholders to make his proposal a reality.”
Bob Swindell, President and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, said: “A strong education system provides a sound economic development resource to sustain and enhance the economic growth, vitality, and global competitiveness of a community. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance applauds Governor Rick Scott for recognizing Broward County School teachers and staff with more than $15 million in school recognition funds. We support Governor Scott’s Florida Families First Budget and the proposed increase for the School Recognition Program. This program rewards our best and brightest and supports the local economy.”
The School Recognition Program distribution for Broward County schools is below.
BROWARD SCHOOL DISTRICT TOTAL
$15,055,108
Annabel C. Perry Elementary School
66,937
Apollo Middle School
98,420
Atlantic Technical Center
58,817
Banyan Elementary School
66,468
Bayview Elementary School
51,915
Beachside Montessori Village
62,783
Ben Gamla Charter School
49,480
Bennett Elementary School
36,476
Bethune Mary M Elementary School
53,042
Blanche Ely High School
173,671
Boyd H. Anderson High School
176,520
Bright Horizons
12,081
Broadview Elementary School
90,119
Broward Virtual Franchise
37,416
Central Park Elementary School
104,033
Challenger Elementary School
86,470
Chapel Trail Elementary School
75,874
Charles W. Flanagan High School
288,446
Charter School of Excellence at Riverland
12,267
City of Coral Springs Charter
152,745
City of Pembroke Pines Charter
179,393
City of Pembroke Pines Charter High School
160,827
City of Pembroke Pines Charter Middle School
119,768
Coconut Creek Elementary School
70,703
Coconut Palm Elementary School
92,090
Collins Elementary School
26,447
Cooper City Elementary School
69,196
Cooper City High School
208,368
Coral Cove Elementary School
74,170
Coral Glades High School
214,588
Coral Park Elementary School
56,878
Coral Springs High School
229,918
Coral Springs Middle School
148,502
Country Hills Elementary School
80,896
Country Isles Elementary School
88,320
Cresthaven Elementary School
51,920
Cypress Bay High School
389,216
Dolphin Bay Elementary School
67,262
Driftwood Middle School
150,981
Eagle Point Elementary School
107,608
Eagle Ridge Elementary School
72,833
Eagles Nest Elementary Charter School
14,366
Embassy Creek Elementary School
89,087
Everglades Elementary School
94,303
Everglades High School
250,400
Excelsior Charter of Broward
18,378
Falcon Cove Middle School
229,707
Flamingo Elementary School
66,252
Floranada Elementary School
68,753
Forest Glen Middle School
141,367
Fort Lauderdale High School
166,801
Fox Trail Elementary School
117,599
Franklin Academy A
104,063
Franklin Academy B
8,771
Gator Run Elementary School
115,205
Glades Middle School
149,813
Griffin Elementary School
51,506
Hallandale High School
118,539
Harbordale Elementary School
33,289
Hawkes Bluff Elementary School
80,081
Henry D. Perry Middle School
69,220
Heron Heights Elementary School
80,340
Hollywood Academy of Arts and Science
40,487
Hollywood Academy of Arts and Science Middle School
22,995
Hollywood Hills Elementary School
67,142
Hollywood Hills High School
156,978
Hollywood Park Elementary School
44,754
Horizon Elementary School
48,323
Imagine at North Lauderdale Middle School
19,264
Imagine Charter School at Weston
82,933
Imagine Charter School of Broward
58,066
Imagine Charter/North Lauderdale
36,476
Indian Ridge Middle School
186,195
Indian Trace Elementary School
64,705
International School of Broward
26,624
J.P. Taravella High School
275,295
James S. Hunt Elementary School
79,917
Lakeside Elementary School
76,770
Manatee Bay Elementary School
110,546
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
282,690
McArthur High School
198,373
McNab Elementary School
76,592
Millennium Middle School
139,415
Miramar High School
238,347
Monarch High School
197,614
Nob Hill Elementary School
59,471
Norcrest Elementary School
69,266
North Andrews Gardens Elementary School
77,438
North Broward Academy of Excellence
59,098
North Broward Academy of Excellence Middle School
32,226
North Lauderdale Elementary School
51,937
North Side Elementary School
35,972
Nova Blanche Forman Elementary School
69,919
Nova Dwight D. Eisenhower Elem
70,666
Nova High School
201,904
Nova Middle School
113,858
Orange Brook Elementary School
78,455
Palm Cove Elementary School
79,582
Panther Run Elementary School
58,604
Paragon Academy of Technology
8,489
Paragon Elementary Charter School
13,853
Park Springs Elementary School
89,112
Park Trails Elementary School
89,375
Parkway Academy
46,399
Pembroke Lakes Elementary School
57,620
Pines Middle School
141,611
Pioneer Middle School
128,316
Piper High School
231,473
Plantation Elementary School
46,787
Plantation High School
207,947
Pompano Beach High School
115,361
Quiet Waters Elementary School
127,588
Ramblewood Middle School
142,684
Renaissance Charter School of Coral Springs
86,795
Riverglades Elementary School
55,840
Riverside Elementary School
72,315
Sawgrass Elementary School
90,816
Sawgras Springs Middle School
122,580
Seminol Middle School
116,470
Sheridan Hills Elementary School
52,947
Sheridan Park Elementary School
59,620
Silve Lakes Elementary School
61,535
Silver Palms Elementary School
68,526
Silver Ridge Elementary School
86,781
Silver Shores Elementary School
63,774
Silver Trail Middle School
137,863
Somerset Academy
82,653
Somerset Academy Charter High
70,424
Somerset Academy Charter High School Miramar Campus
19,777
Somerset Academy Davie Charter
13,303
Somerset Academy East Preparatory
27,707
Somerset Academy Elementary Miramar Campus
75,479
Somerset Academy Middle Miramar Campus
33,221
Somerset Academy Middle School
78,175
Somerset Arts Conservatory
8,489
Somerset Neighborhood School
40,767
Somerset Preparatory Academy Charter School at North Lauderdale
65,675
Stirling Elementary School
60,271
Sunrise Middle School
104,622
Sunset Lakes Elementary School
85,474
Sunset School
11,914
Tequesta Trace Middle School
136,549
The Quest Center
18,238
Tradewinds Elementary School
103,697
Tropical Elementary School
85,359
Village Elementary School
57,297
Virginia Shuman Young Elementary School
61,395
Walker Elementary School (Magnet)
49,402
Walter C. Young Middle School
131,182
West Broward High School
256,727
Westchester Elementary School
111,022
Western High School
277,322
Westglades Middle School
139,747
William Dandy Middle School
86,197
William T. Mcfatter Technical Center
56,543
Winston Park Elementary School
113,402.
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.
