FASTfacts - July 8, 2025 (Vol. 21, Issue 01)

$5 Million Mental Health Allocation Approved for 2025-2026

School Board members unanimously approved a nearly $5 million expense for Mental Health and Wellness services for the coming school year. 

This approval means MCPS remains in compliance with the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act.

The district's Comprehensive Mental Health Plan must be submitted for state approval by August 1 of each year and include many elements such as:

• Procedures for referring students to school-based and community-based mental health providers for treatment and substance abuse treatment
• Procedures to coordinate mental health services with the student’s primary care provider or other mental health providers
• Procedure for data sharing
• Procedures for documenting how many students are referred for services and how many students receive school-based and community-based services
• Description of outcome data that will be used to evaluate effectiveness of services
• Description of Tier-1 awareness/prevention efforts that address mental health issues and substance abuse issues
• Description of Tier-2 evidenced-based targeted mental health interventions
• Description of Tier-3 (intensive) evidenced-based mental health interventions and services available
• Description of the mental health screening tool and assessment procedures to be used
• Procedures for coordination of services and support for students receiving community mental health services
• Procedures for identifying and delivering evidence-based mental health and substance abuse interventions

The plan also includes opt-in options for the five School-Board approved charter schools in Marion County. 

For more details, click this link. 

New School Times Approved Again, Some Due to Budget Cuts

Earlier this year, School Board members discussed modified school start/stop times for the 2025-2026 school year and then formally approved those changes at a meeting a short time later.  

Recent budget cuts cancelled seven-period days at some schools, impacting their approved daily operation times, along with traffic pattern concerns at others. This is why readjusted times were presented and reapproved at tonight's meeting. 

Most school times remain the same as last school year. Only three schools are impacted in this latest round of changes:

• Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks: 9:35AM - 4:11PM
• Liberty Middle: 9:20AM - 3:55PM
• Osceola Middle: 9:20AM - 3:55PM

Use this link to view this most recent listing of 2025-2026 school start/stop times. 

Special Data Share Agreement Benefits Marion Elementary Schools

A new agreement with Curriculum Associates, Inc. means many elementary schools will have access to third-grade diagnostic assessments, i-Ready Math and Reading Toolbox site licenses, and software on the Ellevation platform, plus professional learning opportunities this next school year.

i-Ready provides student assessments and reports to identify strengths and learning priorities that drive classroom instruction. The Teacher Toolbox option supports differentiated whole-class and small-group instruction and provides teachers access to a digital collection of various resources. The service ultimately provides personalized student instruction to increase mastery skills, proficiency, and learning gains.

The Ellevation platform software empowers administrators to set goals aligned with accepted standards and provides bilingual resource facilitators and teachers with data, instructional activities, and classroom-based strategies to improve language acquisition and learning.

The new contract costs $600K and was fully supported, 5–0, by School Board members. The cost will be paid from several sources, including the General Fund, state Reading Allocation dollars, and federal grants.

 The latest class of Florida High Impact Teacher Corps includes five MCPS teachers, some pictured above (front row). School Board members and Interim Superintendent Dr. Danielle Brewer recognized the group for their data-proven impact on student achievement over the last three years.