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Click the below
PDF for information on allowing your child access to the FCAT
Explorer Online.
Dear Parents,
We thought you would like to hear about how well your children
are doing and what's new this year. Also, we want to talk a
little about the staff and what they expect students to do this
year.
Recent research shows that charter schools are out-performing
many of their public school counterparts. Using data taken from
the 2000 - 2003 FCAT, the Florida DOE compared student learning
gains for charter schools and traditional public schools. After
looking at categories that included minorities, low-income
students, gifted, and students with disabilities, the results
were clear. Charter school student achievement matched or
exceeded gains made in traditional public schools.
The Bradenton Charter School's children did extremely well in
2005-2006. They and their teachers were honored by Governor Jeb
Bush. The school is one of the top 50 combination schools in
Florida (elementary and middle). This honor came as a pleasant
surprise. In 2005-2006, students worked hard and produced a
number of excellent projects showing that they had not only
understood their lessons, but that they had also acquired
valuable skills necessary to apply their knowledge.
Just looking at the basics, student improvement in reading was
19.6%, mathematics was a satisfactory 3%, reading was 10.5%.
School-wide, our increases averaged 13% for all areas measured
by the FCAT. These results are exciting. We, like many of our
counterparts, serve students who have not always performed well
in traditional public schools, or who have been enrolled in
alternative educational placements like home-schools.
At Bradenton Charter School, we have a small, individualized
setting with highly qualified professionals. In addition to the
strong academic program, we have the financial commitment to
guarantee the success of our school. We have the support of
experienced accountants and auditors, and our management team
has over 36 years of school administrative experience.
Our staff is a diverse collection of professionals who have
taught in either private or public school settings prior to
arriving at the Bradenton Charter School. For 2006-2007, all
teachers from the prior year returned and the only change in
staff have involved teacher assistants.
With all teachers for 2005 – 2006 returning, and with a stable
administration, the school benefits from a unified view of what
is to come. This year we have implemented two new programs. The
first is “Our Expanding World.” This school-wide initiative
looks at the world’s people, places, environment, geography,
arts, foods, and history. The objectives are to promote reading,
writing, math, science, and social studies in a “world” context
that offer students opportunities to involve themselves in
projects that interest them. Of course, parent support and
participation is invaluable and is requested. Next we have
“Readers for Life.” This school-wide initiative is designed to
use grade leveled literature selected to inspire students to
want to read. Subject matter ranges from serious and heartfelt
topics to those that are fun and ridiculous.
The staff and administration of the Bradenton Charter School are
excited about the possibilities for student achievement this
year. Our goal is to continue to provide students with high
interest work designed to "take them to the next level." We will
not only challenge students with what they need in regards to
their traditional studies, but also to provide them with
experiences and opportunities to develop and produce work
products that reflect their diverse backgrounds and interests.
We are honored to not only be recognized by the Governor's
Office as one of Florida's top combination schools, but to also
have the trust of you, our parents.
Thank you for trusting us with the education of your children.
It is a trust we do not take for granted.
Sincerely,
Richard Donnelly, J.D.
Principal
and
The Teaching Staff and Management Team
of Bradenton Charter School
October 2006.
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