Education team to support student achievement and CSP goals. In an effort to successfully implement the DoDEA Community Strategic Plan, DoDDS Pacific has established an Education Division comprised of 24 subject and grade level coordinators and program specialists. The division will be directly responsible for educational program development to improve and enhance existing programs and design and implement new programs that result in high student achievement. The newly formed division will provide full-service support that is similar to what quality school districts in the United States provide their teachers and schools.

National Goals Panel reports that DoD school system is one of the best. A study released October 9, 2001, by the National Education Goals Panel (NEGP), reported that the DoD school system is one of the best in the nation as measured by student performance and its narrow achievement gap between white and non-white students. Overall, only two states, Connecticut and Maine, rank higher than DoD schools on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in reading and writing. The DoD school system ranks number one in the country for minority students' achievement in reading and writing. Among DoD practices lauded in the study are improved strategic planning and accountability, sufficient resources, sustained professional development, alignment of actions to goals, smaller schools, strong pre-school and after-school programs, and a corporate commitment to education.

High school principals discuss educational reform at DoDEA conference. DoDEA senior leaders planned a DoDEA High School Symposium around the National High School Association regional conference held in Nashville, TN, October 15-19, 2001. The symposium allowed high school principals to discuss educational issues affecting overseas and domestic dependents schools. Topics under discussion at the three-day DoDEA meeting included distance learning, Advanced Placement and Honors classes, professional/technical studies, scheduling, the senior year and graduation requirements, academic counseling, and students in transition. The symposium resulted in the development of recommendations to be considered by the DoDEA Director.

Counselors, psychologists, and nurses receive training in violence prevention. School service professionals received training in violence prevention, crisis management and response, bullying, anger management, and conflict resolution at recent DoDDS Pacific secondary, middle and elementary school conferences. Each school has a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) comprised of the counselor, psychologist, nurse, administrator, and other staff members. Teams have been on the alert for students who may need assistance in coping with the aftermath of September 11. Programs and strategies were developed to help families deal with the stress and challenges of deployment.

Pacific advisory council to participate in school accreditation process. During the 2001-2002 school year, the Advisory Council on Dependents Education (ACDE) and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) will jointly participate in the school accreditation process. In the spring of 2002, ACDE members will join NCA teams to visit schools in DoDDS Europe.

Official enrollment total for Pacific steady. The September 28, 2001, official enrollment figure for DoD dependents schools within the Pacific is 26,681. The official enrollment last year at the same time was 27,035, a variation of approximately one percent. Korea at 3,872 students and Okinawa with 9,123 students are down slightly. The enrollment in Japan has increased somewhat to 11,354 students. DoD Domestic Dependents Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS) Guam reported 2,332 students, a small decrease over the prior year.

DoDDS Pacific test scores strong when measured against DoDEA 2006 goals. Results on the 2001 TerraNova system-wide standardized test show that DoDDS Pacific students are making strides toward the DoDEA Community Strategic Plan goal for student achievement. The 2006 goal states that 75 percent of all students will perform within the top two quarters on a system-wide assessment. Examination of the 45 subtest scores in all subject areas at all grade levels, reveals that 31 percent of the subtest results are at or within 2 percentage points of the goal. The goal also states that fewer than 8 percent of the students would perform below the standard level (the 25th percentile or bottom quarter). Results show that 29 out of 45 subtests, or 64 percent of the comparisons, have already met or exceeded the 2006 goal.

Curriculum review cycle results in new textbooks and materials. New textbooks and materials are being introduced in foreign language, social studies, English as a Second Language (ESL), and physical education curricula under DoDEA's five-year curriculum review cycle. Training of school personnel on the newly adopted materials is ongoing. Schools also provide parents and community members opportunities to become familiar with the new programs and to understand how the new materials meet the standards and promote student achievement.

DoDEA Teacher of the Year announced. A Fort Campbell school teacer has been selected DoDEA's 2002 Teacher of the Year. She is a grade 7 teacher of language arts at Mahaffey Middle School, Fort Campbell School District, Kentucky. The Pacific was represented by the following nominees: a grade 1 teacher from Osan Elementary School, Osan, Korea; an Information Center specialist from Camp Zama American High School, Camp Zama, Japan; a grade 4 teacher at Bechtel Elementary School in Okinawa, Japan; and a grade 8 reading and language arts teacher from Guam South Elementary/Middle School. The purpose of the DoDEA Teacher of the Year program is to recognize and promote excellence in education.