| Every school district must strive for excellence. | | | | provided for elementary and middle school students, |
| Orlando Schools are no exception. From Magnet | | | | who reside in specified areas. Orlando Schools grades |
| Schools to new bus mufflers, from backpacks to | | | | 9-12 magnet programs provide unique personalized |
| free or reduced lunches, the Orlando Schools system | | | | learning communities. These programs of study are |
| is working to continuously improve itself. | | | | aimed at increasing student achievement and permit |
| BACKPACKS: The S.T.A.R.S. program (Supplies To | | | | a student to focus on interest, talents or career |
| Assist Our Students) is the only program that | | | | goals. Middle and elementary magnet programs in |
| provides backpacks and basic school supplies to | | | | Orlando Schools provide students with the |
| elementary, middle and high school students in | | | | opportunity to participate in challenging experiences |
| Orlando Public Schools in West Orange County. | | | | that engage them in learning. MUFFLERS: An ambitious |
| Students will have the tools they need the first day | | | | attempt across the nation to remove nasty and |
| of school. The goal of S.T.A.R.S. is to coordinate | | | | lethal ingredients from diesel exhaust has taken aim |
| community based and individual efforts to efficiently | | | | at the tailpipes of Orlando Schools buses. The original |
| and effectively assist Orlando Schools students in | | | | mufflers on 90 buses have been replaced in recent |
| need so every child who needs a backpack gets one. | | | | weeks with a type that incinerates a portion of |
| FREE/REDUCED LUNCHES: The Orlando Schools | | | | pollutants. That's good for students, motorists and |
| district is accepting applications from families who | | | | pedestrians who breathe fumes from those buses. |
| want to qualify for free or reduced-price meals for | | | | Dirty diesel exhaust has been linked to illnesses such |
| their children. Applications are available at all schools. | | | | as bronchitis, asthma and cancer. Environmental |
| Orlando Schools families must complete the | | | | improvements for other school buses will come |
| application and return it to the school their child will | | | | gradually because of cost and the long lives of diesel |
| attend. For more than one child, one application may | | | | engines. Nearly 1,300 school buses serving Orlando |
| be used for all, and it may be returned to any school | | | | Schools still don't have the devices, called |
| one of the children will attend. To qualify, families | | | | "diesel-oxidation catalysts," which cost about $1,000 |
| must be at 200% below the poverty level. MAGNET | | | | each. "I wish we could get more," said Steve |
| SCHOOLS: Magnet programs have been established | | | | Huckeba, senior administrator of Orlando Schools |
| at Orlando Schools elementary, middle and high | | | | system operations. "[but] We can't take education |
| schools to provide an opportunity for students to | | | | dollars to do that." Orlando Schools are able to count |
| engage in intensive study in specific areas. Orlando | | | | on enough funding to replace about 10 percent of its |
| Schools magnet programs offer the opportunity for | | | | fleet each year. Even at that rate, a lot of relatively |
| students to discover their talents and explore their | | | | dirty buses will remain on the road for a long time. |
| interests while focusing on strong academic | | | | Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, |
| excellence. The programs are designated to attract | | | | providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and |
| students from across the district with transportation | | | | private K-12 schools. |