Part 2: Beliefs and Mission

Overview: Narrative Description of the Process of Defining the

School’s Beliefs and Mission

New Horizons Learning Center began the task of defining its beliefs and mission statements from its inception in 1997, when the superintendent and school board decided to establish a school to give at-risk students a second chance at academic success. Since that time, appointed school-improvement committees have written and refined the school’s beliefs and mission statement, utilizing a comprehensive, consensus-building process that involved teachers, administrators, and patrons.

For accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools a committee was formed to continue the refinement of the work of the school-improvement committees. The committee gathered information from the following sources: school profile data, student achievement levels, and surveys completed by students, parents, teachers, and administrators. After analyzing this information, the committee was able to develop a mission statement that addresses the needs of students at New Horizons Learning Center.

Initial drafts of the Beliefs and Mission Statement were distributed to the administration, faculty, and staff for review and comment. Modifications were made based on the suggestions received, and the consensus-building process continued.

The following two pages contain the mission statement, motto, and beliefs of New Horizons Learning Center.

Our Beliefs

We the administration, faculty, and staff believe that New Horizons Learning Center:

· Provides a quality educational program for special needs and at-risk students.

· Prepares educated and valued citizens for success in a changing world.

· Features real-life activities focused on the IEP/REACH plans of the students.

· Features basic academic instruction.

· Features developmentally appropriate vocational instruction that is a prelude to off-campus job experience.

· Takes into consideration students with diverse cultures and interests.

· Provides instructional efforts which are guided by the abilities and needs of the students.

· Incorporates full correlation of the Sunshine State Standards.

· Provides a therapeutic/behavioral program focused on anger control, effective communication, and life management skills.

· Places emphasis on the use of technology.

Our Mission Statement

Our mission is to provide a quality educational program for special needs and at-risk students that will ensure success in a changing world.

Our program will be real-life related, featuring academic and vocational instruction that will provide hands-on activities, focused on the Individual Education or REACH Plans for each student.

The diverse cultures represented here, the diverse needs and abilities of our students, as well as, the diverse interests of our students will be factors that guide our instructional efforts. Full correlation of the Sunshine State Standards will be the primary focus of our educational program. Our key focus areas will be 1) a therapeutic/behavioral program focused on anger control, effective communication, and life management skills, 2) a continual focus on technology, and 3) a developmentally appropriate vocational component that will be a prelude to off-campus job experiences.

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OUR MOTTO

Achieving Success in a Changing World

Click to Return to Index

Title Page

Faculty and Staff Members

Executive Summary

Part 1. Profile

Part 2. Beliefs and Mission

Part 3 Desired Results for Student Learning

Part 4. Analysis of Instructional and Organizational Effectiveness

Part 5. The Action Plan

Part 6. Implementing the Plan and Documenting the Results