"Florida's business leaders know the critical importance of public
education - to the future of our firms, our economy and our communities.
But we also know that if we want strong schools, we have to do more
than merely demand that others do better. We need to roll up our own
sleeves and become active forces for change."
—Peter S. Rummell, PASS Working Group Chairman, Florida Council
of 100
Under the guidance of the statewide Council for Educational Change
(CEC), the Partnership to Advance School Success (PASS) is an effective
model for improving student performance. Designed by the Florida Council
of 100 and the South Florida Annenberg Challenge, PASS brings top
corporate executives into the classroom, by serving as mentors to
principals for a period of three years. PASS is a hands-on model uniting
the talents of business leaders, school principals and educational
coaches. Most of all, PASS is a commitment by Florida's business community
to leverage what it does best - running efficient, focused organizations
- to improve the quality of public education.
PASS has three primary goals:
- Raise the grade level of Florida's under-performing schools
- Enhance principal leadership skills
- Demonstrate how a partnership model involving business executives,
principals and educational coaches builds higher achieving schools.
Florida CEOs build one-on-one relationships with principals. They
share their expertise through school-site visits, phone calls, email,
mentoring sessions and business site visits. At the same time, professional
educators, serving as coaches, contribute their expertise to the team
as well. They work as a team to improve the quality of education and
raise student achievement levels.
The PASS model supports existing school improvement initiatives, while
bringing in a business perspective, additional resources and innovative
approaches. To assist in that task, and ensure accountability, student
test data, attendance records, teacher feedback and other achievement
information are carefully collected, analyzed and applied on a classroom
level.
With its many successes to date, the PASS model exemplifies how Florida's
commitment to excellence in public education can be achieved - one
school at a time.
Under the guidance of the statewide Council for Educational Change
(CEC), the Partnership to Advance School Success (PASS) is an effective
model for improving student performance.
"I am so proud to be part of the PASS experience," says
Peter S. Rummell, Chairman & CEO, The St. Joe Company. "Our
PASS schools and their principals have proven that with the involvement
of business leaders and a little of their money, children's academic
performance can really improve. Additionally, the executives come
away with a richer understanding of public education, making them
more effective educational ambassadors who can push their colleagues
to redouble their commitment to education."
Pictured here at right is Fritz St. Louis, a student from the PASS
model at Biscayne Gardens Elementary in Miami-Dade. Talking to Fritz
is former South Florida Annenberg Challenge Chair, Leonard Miller
who was instrumental in making PASS a reality and such a successful
school improvement program statewide. Mr. Miller passed away in July,
2002. His belief "Every Child Can Succeed," motivated his
tireless efforts on behalf of students such as Fritz, and school reform.
For more information, contact PASS Coordinator
Sherry Clarke.
 top
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 Business
expertise improves school operations and student achievement.
—the late Leonard Miller, Founding
Chairperson, South Florida Annenberg Challenge and strong supporter
of the PASS model |
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