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