As the 20th century drew to a close, Orange County Public Schools continued its commitment to the young people of Orange County. A new mission statement adopted by the board during the 90s defined its mission “to enable all students to think creatively and critically, to learn what is not yet known, to exercise good judgment, to develop self-respect, and to care about and be fair to others.”
Programs had been expanded to include alternative education, bilingual programs, community education, extended day enrichment programs, hearing and vision screenings, a hospital/homebound program, prekindergarten program, and preschool diagnostic and intervention services.
The district began actively recruiting parent volunteers and business partners to support our schools. The Foundation for Orange County Schools was created to help recruit, retain and recognize quality teachers in the district. More recently, the school board adopted a Philanthropic Strategic Plan to raise money for unfunded programs that are proven to increase student achievement.
The district would not be where it is today without the support of the community. In 2002, after several failed attempts, voters approved a half-penny sales tax for the renovation of old schools and to support the construction of much-needed new schools. Thanks to that effort, and a renewal of the half penny in 2014, all students in Orange County will have access to modern classrooms and technology.
The district’s current vision is to become the top producer of successful students in the nation. The mission statement provides a roadmap of how we plan to get there: to lead our students to success with the support and involvement of families and the community. As Henry Ford wrote: “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.”