Summer Learning at M-DCPS

The students, parents, and employees of Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) have earned a well-deserved break over the summer months, especially following the challenging and unprecedented fourth quarter. Student report cards and final grades will be available on the student portal by June 19, 2020.

 

Below is helpful information for students and families related to M-DCPS educational offerings during the summer recess, including opportunities to mitigate summer learning loss.

 

Summer School Under the SOAR Plan

 

M-DCPS has been at the forefront of providing access to outstanding educational programs over the summer months and has developed a comprehensive plan to address what is likely to be a historic learning regression or “summer slide,” due to the necessary shift to distance learning.

 

To mitigate learning loss for some of our most fragile students, M-DCPS developed the Securing Opportunities for Academic Recovery (SOAR). The plan is comprised of three phases - Recover, Regain, and Restart - that will help us ensure that those students who need us the most have additional learning opportunities before and well into the new school year. Our Summer Program will be divided into Summer A and Summer B to allow students to participate in both, if necessary. For more information about SOAR, visit soar.dadeschools.net.

 

 

Summer Academic Offerings

The eLearning Toolbox is here!  M-DCPS is offering free, digital programs for students in grades PreK-12 during the 2019-2020 school year to avoid the summer slide and to promote at-home student learning using technology. The interactive and engaging digital resources are available through the Student Portal and are meant to provide enrichment activities as well as opportunities for remediation and acceleration; and to support mental health through Social and Emotional Learning activities. Students have access to the “Digital Classroom” (e.g., Discovery Education, Edgenuity, Gizmos, myON, Learning Ally, Newsela, Reading Plus, Reflex, and more) and the “Digital Playground” (e.g., ABCmouse, BrainPOP, Duolingo, Minecraft, Nearpod Virtual Field Trips, Storyline Online, Scratch, Typing Test, and more) which offer a variety of game-based instructional technology tools.  Learn more by visiting www.dadeschools.net.

 

In an effort to keep students engaged and productive during the recess, M-DCPS offers a series of programs and mathematics and reading challenges to avoid the summer slide:

myON Reading Challenge – This initiative encourages students to read as much as possible throughout the summer break. All students who were enrolled in PreK through 8th grade during the 2019-2020 school year are invited to participate in the 2020 myON Summer Reading Challenge to continue to develop critical reading skills and instill a love for reading. The top 10 myON readers will be recognized for the most time spent reading, scoring at least 70 percent on book quizzes, and demonstrating Lexile-level growth. The challenge runs from June 4 through August 2, 2020.

 

The top 10 grade-level winners (one student per grade level) will be recognized with a $50 gift certificate. Additionally, the top three district-wide myON readers will receive an Apple iPad Mini (previous winners are not eligible to win the iPad). Students can access myON through their portal year-round. No registration is necessary.

 

Reflex Math Challenge – This initiative encourages all students who were enrolled in 2nd through 8th grade during the 2019-2020 school year are invited to participate in the 2020 Reflex Summer Math Challenge to promote the continued development of basic math facts fluency. Research has shown that quick recall of math facts is critical for future success in mathematics. The top five Reflex users will be recognized for meeting all four categories: highest average daily use, highest “Green Light Percentage, greatest facts gained, and greatest facts solved. The challenge runs from June 4 through August 2, 2020.

 

The top five grade-level winners (one winner in grades 2, 3, 4, 5, and one overall winner from grades 6-8) will be presented with an Amazon Fire 10 HD tablet and a Reflex Math SWAG bag (previous winners are not eligible to win the tablet). Students can access Reflex Math through their portal year-round. No registration is necessary.

Reading Plus Challenge – This initiative encourages all students who were enrolled in 9th through 12th grade during the 2019-2020 school year to participate in the 2020 Reading Plus Summer Challenge to continue to develop critical reading skills. The top three Reading Plus users will be recognized for the most “Lessons Completed” and earning at least 70 percent on the lessons. The challenge runs from June 4 through August 2, 2020.

 

The top three District-wide winners will be recognized with an Apple iPad Mini and a $50 gift certificate (previous winners are not eligible to win the iPad).  Students can access Reading Plus through their portal year-round. No registration is necessary.

 

Summer Youth Internship Program - M-DCPS and the Foundation for New Education Initiatives are collaborating with Miami-Dade County to virtually operate the 2020 Summer Youth Internship Program (SYIP). The Children’s Trust, Career Source South Florida and South Florida Educational Federal Credit Union are key sponsoring organizations for this initiative.

 

SYIP requires M-DCPS high school students to complete 150 virtual internship hours during the five-week period of July 1 – August 5, 2020 with businesses and organizations throughout Miami-Dade County. This initiative will provide youth with valuable educational, work experience and training opportunities. Along with receiving stipends, paid for through grants and donations, program participants will also earn high school credit and may earn dual enrollment credit through Miami Dade College.  

 

To register a business or organization as an internship provider, visit miami.getmyinterns.org.

 

Adult and Career Technical Education Programs – These programs are being implemented virtually and are open for registration by visiting www.adulteducationworks.com and www.careerinayear.com or by calling 305-558-8000.

 

Alternative Education summer programming is also in operation, as is the Family Empowerment: Summer Youth Engagement Program. This initiative, in partnership with Miami-Dade County, provides 60 at-risk M-DCPS students who live in high-need zip codes with opportunities for mentorship, educational programming and academic support. Each participant receives a $1,000 stipend and a laptop computer.

 

Devices and Connectivity

All M-DCPS students, with the exception of graduating seniors, may keep their District-issued devices over the summer to encourage additional learning. M-DCPS provided 119,000 devices to students, including 9,000 phones with Wi-Fi that could be used as hot spots for Internet access.

 

Additionally, Comcast has extended its commitment to assist customers during the COVID-19 pandemic by offering 60 days of free Internet Essentials service to families that sign up through June 30.

 

Parent Academy Resources for Families

 

The M-DCPS Parent Academy offers a variety of resources for families to support distance learning in English, Spanish and Haitian-Creole. These resources include a Virtual Campus featuring pre-recorded webinars on how to use a variety of online programs; Family Matters, which provides guidance on topics like mental health, vaping, and online learning resources; Virtual Family Fund, which provides links to enriching family activities; and School Meals to assist families in locating the closest M-DCPS meal distribution site. Click on the links below for these resources:

• Family Matters
• Virtual Family Fun
• Virtual Campus

M-DCPS Support Lines

The following telephone support lines are in operation over summer recess. Hours of operation are from Monday – Friday, from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. unless otherwise indicated:

·      Distance Learning: 305-995-HELP (4357)

·      Mental Health Services for students/parents: 305-995-7100

·      Project UP-START for students experiencing unstable housing: 305-995-1729

·      Employee Assistance Program: 305-995-7111 (available 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)

 

For continuous updates on reopening plans for schools, food distribution and other COVID-19 related news, visit covid19.dadeschools.net.

 

For the most up-to-date information, please download the Dadeschools mobile app to your iPhone or Android device. Follow us on Twitter @mdcps and @miamisup, on Instagram @miamischools and @miamisup, and on Facebook at MiamiSchools and AlbertoCarvalho