Elevating Education for the 21st Century
Key Issues: Underfunded schools, Lack of modern educational opportunities.
Amend Existing Laws:
- Education Reform Act (Title 17 V.I.C. Chapter 5): Governs public education in the Virgin Islands.
- Incorporate funding for after-school programs, weekend enrichment opportunities, and year-round schooling. Include mental health screening and intervention programs in schools to improve academic outcomes and reduce dropout rates.
- Education Reform Act (Title 17 Chapter 5 section 41a): Requires bilingual education.
- Increase funding for the ESL program and hire more ESL teachers.
New Initiatives:
- Community Schools: Changing the way we deliver education must be a priority. Establishing community schools collapses the current management of public education, placing decisions in the hands of school’s principals, teachers and parents. Community schools can provide students with better educational opportunities and offer families more choice in their children’s education. Community schools can introduce innovative teaching practices, specialized programs, and individualized learning that can help improve academic outcomes and student engagement.
- Direct UVI to conduct a community educational needs assessment.