The Linking Academic Success with Early Reading (LASER) project will connect the KCC® academic, professional development and ONE3 outreach programs and professional resources to Early Reading First by providing high-quality early childhood education programs for at-risk preschool-age children that will prevent later reading difficulties and ensure positive outcomes.

Hillsborough County School District is the 3rd largest in Florida and serves 170,000 students. The three communities targeted for Phase I of Project LASER serve five Title I elementary schools where over 83% of the students receive free or reduced price lunches (NCES 2001-02). Project LASER will serve those students who are most at risk of early academic failure in the reading, language arts/literacy, technology and math disciplines or have language barriers or inequitable access to resources that would otherwise enable their success. These students have shown negligible progress in the lowest 25% of the student population in the target disciplines by grade 3 (CCD data 2001-02).

The measurable goals are to increase outcomes in these areas while improving overall center and staff quality to accreditation levels. Progress will be validated by the use of Individual Development and Educational Plans (IDEPs), integrated pre and post level assessments, system driven progress, skill level reporting, an educationally based Balanced Scorecard to measure, benchmark and improve outcomes and the attainment of a national accreditation. Project LASER is uniquely designed to target and positively effect long-term, sustainable systemic gains - thus ensuring early educational excellence.

The Committee for Academic Excellence Community Technology Center - Program Abstract

Through collaborative efforts with the Hillsborough County School Board, CAE members, Kid’s Community College®, and local CBOs, the CAE CTC will provide a premiere educational and technology center facility that will: Provide all students with a high-quality, strong foundation of learning that will negate the need for preventative/remedial programs at the middle and high school level. Provide secondary school students with the tools, skills and resources necessary to reach their full academic potential. Provide disadvantaged adult members of the community with equitable access to technology, adult literacy and remedial programs and integrated career planning that include skills training and developmental services that increase job marketability. Provide family enrichment programs and seminars that will positively influence student outcomes at home, school and in the community. Provide teachers with the education, training, skills and opportunities necessary to provide high-quality learning environments.

The Technology Center will be an extension of the CAE ONE3 outreach programs, aligning its initial focus with the DOE program mission of improving the academic success of low-achieving students attending low-performing secondary schools. Our school district is the 3rd largest in Florida and serves 170,000 students. The audience we will support represents over 8,700 of the district’s lowest-achieving secondary students who have failed to achieve proficiency and are performing below their current grade levels (2001 CDC). We will serve students in the bottom 25% who are most at risk of academic failure in the reading, language arts/literacy, technology and math disciplines (evidenced by FCAT results) or have language barriers or inequitable access to resources that would otherwise enable their success. This group has shown negligible progress (less than a 1% gap improvement) in the lowest 25% of the student population in the target disciplines based on NAEP and NCES data (comparing 1996 to 2003). In short, these students continue to fail and the CAE is committed to changing this trend.

The measurable goals are to increase academic performance in the targeted areas. Progress will be validated by the use of integrated pre and post level assessments, system driven progress and skill level reporting. The CAE is strategically aligned to provide a strong CTC offering. Using our alliances and supportive funding from this grant, we will provide a comprehensive incorporation of programs and integrated services that will yield a high-quality, technologically advanced community technology center that will meet and exceed the requirements of the CTC program requirements.

Kid’s Community College Charter School dedicated to the well-being and educational success of every child, we will assist Florida public schools in setting the standard for high-quality early childhood education. Instilling and incorporating core values such as responsibility, discipline, respect, trust and honesty is the crux of our school philosophy.

Students will have pride in Kid’s Community College Charter School and will respect the dedicated and devoted administrators, teachers, and staff who commit their lives to the education of children. Students and teachers will hold themselves to high academic standards of achievement and success. They will appreciate an education that fosters an environment of learning conducive to optimal individual student success as they strive to accomplish their educational goals. Each student will have equal opportunity to receive and be given a quality education.

Parents will have the right to participate in the education of their child and will be encouraged and expected to get involved in the governance of the school. Parents will support the teachers and school administrators and will follow through at home in a collaborative effort to make certain their children accomplish their educational goals. Our school will respect diverse cultures and be a place of patience, tolerance and understanding.

The academic standards of the school are high and will align itself with the Sunshine State Standards. Every student will have a personal educational and development plan to establish a strong educational foundation rooted in excellence, high achievement and age appropriate development.

Faculty and staff of our school will be qualified, competent and caring professionals working collaboratively to instruct, mentor, and motivate students to learn. They will continuously strive to increase their skills, knowledge and abilities, be proficient in current educational and instructional methods and technologies, and be stellar role models for students to emulate. The faculty and staff will also act and advisors to students and parents. Teachers will be committed to ensuring the educational success of each of their students.

Our future depends on the education of our children. We welcome and rise to the challenge of assisting to shape and mold a bright future through the education of our children.