M-DCPS to Continue Expanding African-American Participation in STEM with Newly-Awarded Three-Year Grant

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) has been named one of the seven national recipients of the African American Youth STEM Initiative Grant from NAF and made possible by the Fund II Foundation. M-DCPS’ selection was based on its compelling plans to expand opportunities in STEM to its African-American student population in the NAF academies. Each school district will be awarded up to $225,000.

NAF STEM Academies at three M-DCPS schools:  Information Technology and the Engineering Fast Track at American Senior High; Engineering and Health Sciences at North Miami Senior High; and Information Technology at North Miami Beach Senior High will implement strategies and activities across its programs to strengthen corporate, post-secondary and community engagement to offer more internship opportunities to African-American students. Each school also has committed to increasing the number of African-American students achieving NAFTrack Certification, an industry-recognized accreditation, which signals to employers that individuals are uniquely qualified.

“This grant will allow us to increase representation from our African-American students so they are able to achieve successful futures in STEM careers,” said Lisette Alves, Assistant Superintendent, Division of Academics.

The African-American Youth STEM Initiative was created to address the cascading effects of low high school graduation rates and the lack of college and career readiness resources for young people in the U.S.

The Fund II Foundation provides grants to 501(c)3 public charities to preserve the cultural richness of the African-American experience and to safeguard human dignity by giving voice to the voiceless and promoting human rights. NAF is a national network of education, business, and community leaders who work together to ensure that high school students are college, career, and future ready. For more information about NAF Academies in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, please visit: dcte.dadeschools.net.

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