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