New Horizons
New Horizons Learning Center was created in 1997 and classified as a Second Chance School by the Florida Department of Education. That meant we had a unique opportunity to serve a special population of high-risk students. In 1995 the Florida Legislature amended the Dropout Prevention Act and created, in section 230.2316(3), Florida Statutes, the Second Chance Schools Program for students who are severely disruptive, violent, habitually truant, or are adjudicated. Two features of Second Chance Schools differentiated them from traditional schools and alternative education programs.
- First, they were provided flexibility through waivers to state requirements in several areas, including curriculum and service delivery.
- Second, school districts entered into cooperative agreements with at least one community partner (e.g., Department of Juvenile Justice, private providers, local law enforcement agencies, or other agencies) to provide academic, vocational, social/emotional, health, and other necessary services.
Most recently, New Horizons dropped the Second Chance designation since the waivers once needed to operate are now in state statute. However, we still serve the same categories of students as noted above.
In the 2008-2009 School Year New Horizons was designated as a Title I school. With this designation comes the expectation for improved student performance and additional funding to help reach this goal.
We are a district school, just like any other school in Bay County, and abide by the same policies and regulations, as well as taking all the state required tests, such as the FCAT. Our entire staff is employed by the Bay County School Board. We use the same Sunshine State Standards every school uses, but we are very focused on providing life skills, social skills, employability skills, and anger control skills that will form the basis for students transitioning back to regular schools or into jobs in our community.
Facilities
At the start of 2007-2008 school year we moved into a new facility that was designed and built for our mission. Our facilities include 22 classrooms, a multi-purpose cafeteria/auditorium, a Physical Education pavilion with a softball field, and a dedicated media center with an integrated computer lab and ITV studio. Our new facility is designed for maximizing student and staff safety while creating an inviting learning environment. Access to the facility is through a controlled single point, which includes a metal detector. Security is further enhanced by a security fence that controls student movement and a campus wide securitycamera system that can be monitored by the SRD and the Administrators.
PBS (Positive Behavior System)
PBS is a data driven program to target student behavior. Through data analysis, PBS provides a way to recognize appropriate behaviors and intervene when necessary.
Enrollment in New Horizons Learning Center is based on the following situations:
· We serve as Bay District School’s 6-12th grade center-based school for students designated as EBD (Emotionally Behaviorally Disturbed) students. EBD students are placed through the Exceptional Student Education staffing process, and New Horizons is their home school.
· Students are referred from District Middle or High Schools. School Child Study Teams assess a student’s individual needs and recommend students who they feel would best be served by New Horizons’ program.
· The Bay District School Board may place a student at New Horizons as an option in the expulsion process.
Parents who think their child would benefit from New Horizons’ program should contact our guidance staff, or the guidance staff of their child’s school, for more information