TO: Mayor and Commissioners
FROM: Terrence R. Moore, ICMA-CM
DATE: August 12th, 2025
Title
FINAL DISCUSSION REGARDING AMENDMENTS TO THE EDUCATION ELEMENT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
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Recommended Action:
Recommendation
The City Commission is asked to consider any further modifications or adjustments to proposed amendments to the Always Delray Comprehensive Plan's Education Element before said amendments are submitted to go move through the formal approval process.
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Background:
The Always Delray Comprehensive Plan's Education Element serves as the primary document for policy direction that guides the work of the Education Division and City of Delray Beach Education Board. The development of the education element within the Always Delray Comprehensive Plan initially served as an extension of the Public Schools Facilities Element that addressed school concurrency requirements. The expansion of the education element began in 2016 through multiple phases of community engagement and collaboration between the Education Coordinator, Education Board and Planning Department. Throughout these collaboration processes, goals and objectives were developed to guide the work of the education staff and develop strategies to achieve success.
The following goals within the Always Delray Comp Plan serves as the basis for policy direction within the Goals, Objectives, and Policies section:
Goal 1: Education Advocacy: Continue to advocate for the educational needs of residents by fostering and further developing relationships between the education board, local nonprofit partners, government entities, and The School District of Palm Beach County
Goal 2: Quality Education Initiatives: Provide and support extracurricular education and lifelong learning initiatives for residents of all ages
Goal 3: Extracurricular and Lifelong Learning Initiatives: Provide and support extracurricular education and lifelong learning initiatives for residents of all ages
Goal 4: Community Character and Enrichment: Emphasize the importance of educational facility placement and planning within the community by implementing appropriate physical and social infrastructure which enriches the quality of life for residents in surrounding neighborhoods and instills a sense of community pride, while providing a safe and secure environment for students and school employees
Goal 5: Public School Coordinated Planning: Coordinate with the School District of Palm Beach County and other local governments for the planning of public educational facilities consistent with the "Interlocal Agreement Between the School Board of Palm Beach County, Palm Beach County and the Municipalities of Palm Beach County for Coordinated Planning"
All goals within the Comprehensive Plan seek to further the success of Delray Beach Public Schools and educational outcomes of Delray Beach residents. Proposed amendments to each section seek to strengthen the following:
-Partnerships with Delray Beach families and community partners
- Partnerships and initiatives with The School District of Palm Beach County and the city's strategic partners through the development of new policies and refinement of the Comprehensive Plan's performance indicators.
-The City of Delray Beach school readiness, grade-level reading and workforce development opportunities and initiatives.
-City of Delray Beach after school, summer, and nonprofit programming.
The Data, Inventory, and Analysis section of the Comprehensive Plan outlines Delray Beach Public School proficiency, enrollment, capacity, attendance, and program data to propose recommendations for remediation. This section serves as the driver for the policies and strategies proposed within the Goals, Objectives, and Policies Section. Amendments to this section includes updated school performance and enrollment data to provide the Commission with information to drive 2025 goals and priorities. It is the intent to use this data within the workshop for the Commission to develop key initiatives that will promote early childhood success, family engagement, grade-level reading, and workforce development.
The proposed amendments, along with any other considerations, will be formally submitted for review by the Planning and Zoning Board and then will come back to the City Commission for formal adoption.