America's Choice is a comprehensive program that assists schools and communities in getting their students to achieve high, internationally benchmarked academic and occupational standards.  America's Choice provides the tools, professional development and technical assistance needed by schools to implement a standards based reform. 
     The America's Choice initiative was implemented at LaBelle in 2002 to assist the staff in its goal of improving student achievement.  The initiative is now in year five and is continuing to provide a common focus as well as a common language for the curriculum.  In year one, a 2 and 1/2 hour literacy block was established in grades K - 5, plus a one hour math block.  Positions for two literacy coaches and two math coaches were established.  These coaches received extensive training in their fields by America's Choice Trainers and then redelivered their training to the teachers at LaBelle.   A Writers and Readers Workshop was implemented in all grades, along with a Skills Block to concentrate on improving literacy skills for all LaBelle students.  A Math Workshop was put in to practice at grades 3 - 5 and is now being implemented in grades 1 and 2.  LaBelle currently has two coaches who continue to model and support best practices within the K-5 classrooms.

    For the past four  years LaBelle students demonstrated "Adequate Yearly Progress" (AYP) and LaBelle is no longer classified as a "Needs Improvement School."   The LaBelle staff continues with the America's Choice Program using best practices to assure our students are meeting and exceeding standards.