TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – An effort is underway this year to boost performance at Florida A&M’s Developmental Research School (FAMU DRS).
For the past several years, the Florida Department of Education’s annual school report has issued a “C” to the laboratory school.
Now, the university’s board of trustees is working to find areas for improvement. In February, the board created a subcommittee to “review, evaluate, and recommend policies, structures and strategies that strengthen the School academic performance, operational integrity, financial stability, and long-term alignment with the mission of FAMU.”
A few months later, the subcommittee’s chair, Trustee Jamal Brown, sat down with WCTV to provide an update.
“So at the end of the day, the work is about our students,” Dr. Brown said. “It’s about making sure that DRS has the structure, the accountability, the support. And we want to make sure as a Board that we understand what it takes for FAMU DRS to be an ‘A’ school.”
Dr. Brown said the board is made up of fellow trustees, as well as DRS faculty and parents. Representatives from Leon County schools and other education experts are also on board.
The subcommittee was then divided up into six teams, each tasked with looking into a different component.
More Tallahassee News
“[We’re looking at] what the resources are, what the gaps are, what’s needed from the board, what’s needed for the university, so that we can provide the support and help to provide the infrastructure for them to be best positioned.” Dr. Brown said.
Trustee Brown shared an update at the June 11 Board of Trustees meeting, including discussion of a dashboard tool that will help the board focus its improvement efforts.
Dr. Brown believes a major goal is to create a more efficient pipeline from DRS to the university right next door.
“Florida A&M University is right there on campus, and so strengthening our pipelines, strengthening our programs, and also strengthening the work that we’re doing at DRS across the board is really what we’re looking at,” he said.
He added that part of the mission is to make sure future DRS students have the financial tools and aid available to make it a seamless transition.
The subcommittee will continue to provide updates to the FAMU Board of Trustees at meetings later this year.
To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Nextdoor and X (Twitter).
Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here. Please include the article’s headline in your message.
Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here to get started.
Copyright 2026 WCTV. All rights reserved.