Located in a multicultural community near Interstate 95 in northern Miami-Dade County, Biscayne Gardens Elementary faces many challenges, including diverse languages, socioeconomic issues and parental involvement. The PASS partnership, supported by Miami-Dade Superintendent Merrett Stierheim and embraced by the school and community, provided a "safety net" which swept student achievement upwards "within one short year."

Through PASS, Principal Valerie Ward teamed with Joe Arriola, CEO of Inktel Direct, who has provided financial support and quality time to the school. Arriola began the partnership with meetings with Ward and involved his family in touring the school . After finding that the architecture and windows let little light into the classrooms, Arriola began the process of removing the faded shutters from classroom windows. He also commissioned a crew to begin painting the school, and replacing the worn-out carpeting and dilapidated furniture. This was a first step in improving the learning environment for students.

Coach Dr. Billie Birnie was selected to prioritize the school's needs and help develop a plan of action. The needs assessment targeted benchmarks: reading, mathematics, and student attendance; writing, student behavior, teacher attendance, classroom observations, parent involvement and parent participation. The mission became one of "Cultivating Minds and Harvesting Excellence."

Looking at one of the key benchmarks, parental involvement grew significantly, with 25 percent of parents/guardians visiting their child's classroom at least once each semester. The school's 2003 plan calls for monthly parent workshops, teacher/student/parent conferences and student performance assemblies. The school received the South Florida Annenberg Challenge Implementation of the Empowering Principals to Improve Literacy Leonard Miller Grant, offering day/evening reading and technology classes for students and their parents to enhance literacy.

Today, students recite the following motto every morning:
"Biscayne Gardens Elementary, the Intelligent School,
"The road we seek is intelligence,
Where everyone can learn.
To burn the sign that says "We Can't," and
Plant the seed that says "We Can."

Ward believes that multiple factors- including parent involvement, teacher-pupil perceptions, data analysis, instructional focus, teacher-principal meetings, faculty teamwork, and student tutoring - have led to the school's overall improvement. Ward adds that "the best is yet to come," as parents become more involved, teachers' high expectations are established, students take responsibility for their personal learning, and attendance and behavior continue to improve. "The PASS partnership has created a nucleus of aspiring students who will continue to excel!"

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