Despite the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001 that marked the beginning of the school year and despite the uncertain national economic climate that prevailed throughout the year, the 2001-2002 school year ended with great success for all students in the Levittown Public Schools. Our seniors graduated with an all-time record Regents diploma rate of 75 percent and students at all levels exceeded the Nassau County averages on all state tests.

As we begin the 2002-2003 school year, the school district faces new challenges brought about by its recent successes. Students in the Levittown School District have established a solid record of continuous improvement in academic performance year in and year out for the past 15 years. The commitment to higher academic standards on the part of parents, students, teachers, administration, the Board of Education, and the entire Levittown community has enabled Levittown students to meet and surpass every goal established by the school district. A dozen years ago, Levittown students surpassed the state average on statewide exams and more recently have equaled or exceeded Nassau County school district averages on these measures.

One of the major challenges facing the school district during the 2002-2003 school year is the revision of goals for student academic performance. Having exceeded the previous goal of the Nassau County average for two years now, the school district, on behalf of students and parents, will be identifying new and more rigorous standards of student achievement.

The establishment of new standards will be a difficult task, since the Nassau County average has been easy to identify and has always represented the highest standards in the state and even in the nation. In its effort to identify higher standards for student achievement, the school district will be considering such things as redefining mastery levels for all students within the structure of New York State testing programs. The district will also consider the feasibility of a local Regents diploma based on higher standards than those required for the state Regents diploma. Additionally, the district will be reviewing independent and rigorous measures and standards of achievement such as the expansion of its advanced placement curriculum and consideration of the International Baccalaureate program.

As we have seen, the goal setting and revision process in Levittown is never-ending and must constantly be monitored and revised in order to provide an ongoing challenge for all students at all levels. In this way, the Levittown Board of Education and the school district share the community's commitment to the highest standards of education for all children in Levittown.