Volusia County Schools to eliminate uniform policy

Ormond Beach Observer
News

by: Cindi Lane

Volusia County Schools Community Information Specialist

The Volusia County School Board on Tuesday, June 22, voted to advertise an amendment to School Board Policy 217, which would eliminate requiring students to follow a uniform policy. This will be voted on by the board at the July 27 meeting.

Also Tuesday, the board approved the addition of "Let's Talk," a comprehensive feedback and customer service tool for VCS. Let’s Talk is a software platform that will serve as a centralized resource on VCS websites for parents and students to receive information and answers to their questions, and to make comments. It will be a one-stop shop to provide resources and support to families and also will assist schools and departments with providing excellent customer service. Let’s Talk will be implemented in the coming months.

The board also approved continuation of partnerships with Daytona State College, the Daytona Tortugas, and the College Board. The board also heard about a new partnership with the Peabody Auditorium Foundation. The Peabody Auditorium Foundation Youth + Art = Success! Program will begin in 2021-2022. Elementary, middle, and high schools would be chosen for both in-school and in-person theatrical shows. In addition, each high school would be eligible for one scholarship going to a student pursuing a cultural arts education.

The Daytona State College Dual Enrollment Articulation Agreement allows eligible Volusia County Schools middle- and high-school students to take dual enrollment courses toward Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees, as well as college credit certificate programs and vocational certificate programs. This partnership has been very successful. More than 1,700 VCS students took dual enrollment courses this spring, and 155 VCS Class of 2021 graduates earned their AA degrees before graduation – the most ever.

This will be the second school year for the district’s partnership with the College Board through which all high school students take a College Board exam. The PSAT 8/9 will be administered to 9th-grade students; all 10th-grade students will take the PSAT/NMSQT; and 11th- and 12th-graders take the SAT School Day. The progression of assessments helps students prepare for the SAT. The partnership also give VCS students access to the Khan Academy to receive free personalized practice recommendations based on their performance. VCS participated in the SAT School Day program for the first time this school year, and 585 students (11th- and 12th-graders) earned a qualifying score for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship.

VCS is also excited to continue its partnership with the Daytona Tortugas minor league baseball team. Programs operated through the partnership include the Summer Home Run Reading Challenge, the High School Ambassador Program, Education Day, Teacher Appreciation Night, and Extended Day – Summer Splash Days. The Daytona Tortugas have been in a formal partnership with the School Board since 2018, and the agreement approved Tuesday continues this collaboration for three additional years.

The student winners of the Florida PTA Reflections Arts Program were recognized by the board at Tuesday’s meeting. They are: