All students who meet the minimum qualifications, including being in the 10th, 11th, or 12th grade as of July 1, 2005, are eligible to register for dual enrollment classes, which award both high school and college credit. Through this academic acceleration program, students take classes at a college or university after school hours or during the summer. Tuition fees are waived, and the district pays for textbooks. Students are responsible for their own transportation.
     Students must submit college transcripts to their high school guidance counselor to receive credit for dual-enrollment courses.
     For additional information, contact the Division of Advanced Academic Programs at 305-995-1993.

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ADULT AND CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION CLASSES

     Miami-Dade County Public Schools offers more than 100 programs of study in applied technology and adult education. More than 128,582 students participate in day and evening classes at 21 adult education centers across the county.
     The applied technology program offerings include agribusiness, business technology, family and consumer sciences, health sciences, marketing and public service education.
     The adult general education program:

• assists adults in becoming literate and in obtaining the knowledge and skills necessary for employment and self-sufficiency

• assists parents in obtaining the educational skills to become full partners in the education of their children

• assists adults in completing high school graduation requirements or the equivalent.

     Adults move at their own rate through levels of reading, language, writing and mathematics. Additionally, students may use computers with Internet access to receive instruction using an exclusive curriculum in academic or vocational program areas.
     Financial assistance may be available to low-income individuals or disabled workers. For more information contact an adult, skill, or technical center near you, or visit your local South Florida Workforce one-stop center.
     For course information, contact the hotline at 305-995-2500.

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BEFORE-, AFTER-SCHOOL CARE AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

     This year 208 public elementary schools in Miami-Dade County will offer after-school care on school days. Before-school care will be provided as needed.
     After-school care programs are conducted from the time of school dismissal until 6 p.m. Before-school care programs begin approximately one hour before school starts. Parents should check with their child’s school for specific start times.
     All after-school care programs provide planned activities, which include homework assistance, indoor and outdoor games, arts and crafts, snack time and various recreational activities. Many programs offer reading and math tutoring, music, ceramics, chess, drama and other classes providing participants a variety of educational and enrichment experiences. Before-school care programs provide supervised, quiet activities for students.
The cost of after-school care is $30 per week; the cost of before-school care is $15 per week.
     Each program is offered by one of four providers: Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the YMCA, the YWCA and the Family Christian Association of America (FCAA).
     Interested parents should contact the principal’s office at their child’s school to learn which programs are offered. Further information may be obtained by calling the school system’s Office of Adult/Vocational, Alternative and Community Education at 305-995-1242, or by logging on to www.dadeschools.net for updates.
     Additional information may be obtained by contacting the YMCA at 305-357-4000, the YWCA at 305-377-9922 and the FCAA at 305-685-4881.

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BILINGUAL PARENT OUTREACH PROGRAM

     Immigrant families new to Miami-Dade can find information about education, community services, and parental rights and responsibilities through free seminars, which are presented in Spanish and/or Haitian Creole, offered by the Bilingual Parent Outreach Program. This program, offered by the Division of Bilingual Education and World Languages, is an outreach service for immigrant parents, including limited English proficient parents. Free childcare is provided for seminar participants.
     A schedule of seminars may be obtained by calling Oscar Fragas, Division of Bilingual Education and World Languages at 305-995-1998 or by visiting the website at http://bilingual.dadeschools.net.

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CHARTER SCHOOLS

     Charter schools are public schools operating under a contractual agreement with the local school board. They are nonprofit institutions typically run by a group of parents or teachers, organizations, municipalities, universities, and/or combinations of more than one group.
     There are 35 charter schools currently in operation in Miami-Dade County with an additional 18 scheduled to open in Fall 2005.
     For further information regarding charter schools, including their locations, please contact Specialized Programs – Charter School Operations at 305-438-2220 or visit the charter school web site at http://choice.dadeschools.net.

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COLLEGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

     The College Assistance Program (CAP), in the Division of Student/Career Services, offers college awareness as well as financial aid and scholarship workshops for students and parents.
     In each high school, CAP advisers assist students in completing applications for college entrance exams, admission to postsecondary institutions, financial aid and scholarships.
     The annual National College Fair, co-sponsored by M-DCPS and the National Association for College Admission Counseling, features more than 150 colleges and universities from around the country and is held each spring.
The College Assistance Program, Inc. (CAP, Inc.), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, has awarded thousands of dollars to college-bound students.
     For more information, students should contact their school’s CAP adviser in the Student Services Department or call the Division of Student/Career Services at 305-995-1743.

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WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE?
NATIONAL COLLEGE FAIR COMES TO MIAMI, SUNDAY, FEB. 19

     South Florida students and parents can meet representatives from more than 150 colleges and universities at the 2006 National College Fair in Miami from noon-4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 19, at the Sheraton Miami Mart Hotel (formerly the Radisson Mart), 777 N.W. 72 Ave. Students, parents and others are invited to the free fair.
     The event allows students and others to meet with college representatives and get their questions answered. Information sessions on financial aid, college planning and admission and testing requirements also will be offered.
Counseling and computer centers will allow students to access career interest surveys and information about college preparation, admissions and scholarships.
     The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and Miami-Dade County Public Schools are sponsors of the event. School Board Member Perla Tabares Hantman is co-chair of the National College Fair’s local committee. Every year NACAC sponsors fairs in 48 cities across the country that attract more than 650,000 students and parents.
     For more information, contact the College Fair Hotline at 305-995-1743 or visit www.nacac.com.

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COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES AT AFFORDABLE PRICES

     Miami-Dade County Public Schools has 31 community schools and 21 adult education sites offering classes in just about every subject – from yoga to foreign languages to photography – either free or at low cost. Most courses are offered in the afternoon or evening.
     More than 98,000 people have taken advantage of these educational opportunities, and if a group wants to learn a new skill, Miami-Dade County Public Schools will arrange a class in a neighborhood school.
     Community schools offer classes for people of all ages, skill levels and language capabilities. Students enrolling in typing or computer classes can enhance job skills. Some courses can even be taken for college credit.
For more information on the advantages of community schools, call 305-995-1242.

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COMPREHENSIVE MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE PROGRAM (CMSP)

     The Comprehensive Mathematics and Science Plan (CMSP) helps students achieve the mathematics and science literacy necessary for success in post-secondary education and in the workplace. The program’s goals and requirements include the following components:

• Every student who graduates from Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) will have completed a minimum of Algebra 1, Geometry (or the equivalent) and another higher level mathematics course and will be able to apply mathematics principles to solve problems in real life; and

• Every student who graduates from M-DCPS will have completed a minimum of Earth/Space Science, Biology and Chemistry (or Physical Science) and will be able to apply science principles in real life.

     A structured approach to improve the capacity of teachers to teach mathematics and science and to transform teaching practices to focus on concept formation and problem solving is key to the success of this initiative.
The program has strengthened academic content and has improved instruction in Miami-Dade’s public schools. It also has boosted students’ mathematics performance on the FCAT, enrollment in high-level mathematics and science courses, passing rates for Algebra I and Chemistry and parent and community involvement.
     Community partners, including local universities, libraries and municipal governments, continue to help link mathematics and science learning to real-world issues and careers.
     For more information, please call Dr. Constance Thornton, Administrative Director, Division of
Mathematics and Science Education, at 305-995-2341.

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COMPREHENSIVE STUDENT/CAREER SERVICES
PROGRAM MEETS STUDENTS’ NEEDS

     Miami-Dade County Public Schools offers its students and their families many support services. The Division of Student/Career Services implements the Standards-Based Student Development Framework to address each student’s academic, personal/social, career, and health/development needs and drives the services provided by the team of guidance counselors, College Assistance Program (CAP) advisors, career specialists, TRUST specialists, Safe Schools Facilitators, school social workers, school psychologists, District Crisis Management Team, and health screeners.
     The goal of the programs and services is to reduce barriers to student achievement and to provide a smooth transition for students in pre-K to adult. Key strategies include enhanced health services; maintaining an effective level of prevention, preparation, response, and recovery services; and establishing and expanding partnerships with healthcare and other community-based organizations.
     For more information, contact the school guidance counselor or Student Services chairperson at your child’s school. You may also call the Division of Student/Career Services at 305-995-7338 or visit studentcareerservices.dadeschools.net.

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COMPREHENSIVE READING PLAN

     Miami-Dade County Public Schools has one of the nation’s most comprehensive reading plans for all students in kindergarten through grade 12, incorporating requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and state Just Read, Florida! programs.
     The plan calls for instruction in the five essential elements of reading, three forms of classroom assessment, initial instruction and immediate, intensive intervention as needed.
     Developed by staff with the assistance of an Ad Hoc Reading Committee, it has been identified at the national and state levels as an exemplary reading program that has resulted in significant student gains.

     This School Board-mandated program includes the following strategies and requirements:

• Two consecutive hours daily of language arts reading instruction for students in kindergarten through grade five;

• Instructional frameworks for grades 6-12;

• Assessment of students’ reading proficiencies, using screening and progress diagnostic monitoring (as needed);

• Immediate, intensive intervention provided as needed at all grades to accelerate reading achievement;

• Emphasis on daily, systematic and explicit phonics instruction in kindergarten through grade three; and

• Required independent reading at all grade levels, both in and out of school.

     Key elements of the program are extensive professional development for teachers at all levels, a structured approach to reading instruction and an emphasis on reading across all areas of the curriculum with expectations clearly identified at each grade level. Systematic support is provided by the school-site administrator, reading leader/coach, educational specialists and district personnel who synchronize effective implementation of the plan.
The Comprehensive Reading Plan is supported by a wide variety of community organizations, higher education institutions and local agencies.
     For more information, contact the Division of Language Arts/Reading at 305-995-3122.

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NEED HELP WITH HOMEWORK?
JUST CALL DIAL-A-TEACHER

     For youngsters and their parents in Miami-Dade County’s public schools, help with homework is as close as a phone call, or the click of a computer mouse.
     Dial-A-Teacher, at 305-995-1600, offers homework help on the phone by certified teachers from 5:30 - 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday, on school nights. Help in Spanish and Haitian-Creole is also available.
     To access the Dial-A-Teacher web site, go to www.dial-a-teacher.com. Students and parents can e-mail the Dial-A-Teacher staff with homework questions, or they can check out the database of frequently asked
questions.
     The Dial-A-Teacher program is operated by the Office of Adult/Vocational, Alternative and Community Education.
For more information, call 305-995-1822.

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EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

     Students must have emergency contact information on file at their schools to ensure that parents and other designated individuals may be quickly notified in the event of an emergency regarding their children.
     Parents fill out this information on a student data card when they enroll their children for the first time at a Miami-Dade County public school; it is then updated yearly. It is important, however, that parents update this information in writing during the school year should changes to names, telephone numbers or addresses occur.
     When an emergency involves a student at school or during a school-authorized activity, school officials immediately notify one of the parents. If neither parent can be contacted, a relative or friend who is designated on the student data card as the emergency contact will be called. The rescue squad and/or the police are called to the school in the event the parent(s) or designated contact person(s) cannot be reached and the student’s illness or injury is serious.

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EXTENDED FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROGRAM

     The Extended Foreign Language (EFL) program is a variation of a “school within a school” and serves students who are interested in developing bilingual and bi-literate proficiency in English and another language. Program participants start at an early age to achieve true language fluency. The EFL program, offered at each grade level, aims at delivering 60 percent of instruction in English and 40 percent in the targeted second language, such as Spanish, Italian, French, or Haitian-Creole.
     Students participating in the program for one full school year are automatically enrolled the next year at the subsequent grade level. The program provides a continuum of bilingual studies through grade 12.
Additional information, as well as a list of all schools offering the EFL program and other bilingual programs, may be obtained by calling Dr. Joanne H. Urrutia, Administrative Director, Division of Bilingual Education and World Languages at 305-995-1945 or visiting the website at http://bilingual.dadeschools.net.

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FALL REGISTRATION AND SCHOOL HOURS

     Miami-Dade County’s public schools will open their doors Monday, August 8 to start the 2005-2006 school year. The 39 schools in the School Improvement Zone will start the school year on August 1.
     Pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and first-grade students will attend school from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Second-through sixth-graders will attend school from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. K-8 Centers will operate 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. On Wednesdays, all elementary school students will be dismissed at 2 p.m.
     Hours at middle schools will be 9 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. Senior high school hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Some elementary, middle and senior high schools as well as some special K-8 and alternative-education centers will operate on individual schedules. Parents should telephone their children’s schools for those hours.
     Schools in the Improvement Zone operate on another schedule. Pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and first-grade students will attend from 8:20 a.m. to 3 p.m. Second- through sixth-graders will attend school from 8:20 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Wednesdays, all elementary school students will be dismissed at 3 p.m. Hours for senior high schools, grades nine through 12, will be 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. On Wednesdays, all senior high school students will be dismissed at 2:30 p.m. Zone middle schools and some Zone high schools operate on individual schedules. Parents should telephone their children’s schools for those hours.
     Parents who don’t know which school their child will attend should access school boundary descriptions at the Miami-Dade County Public Schools web site, www.dadeschools.net/schools/locator.htm, or should phone Attendance Services, Maps and Boundaries Department at 305-883-5651.
     Although there is no cut-off date for registering, students are urged to register early to avoid processing delays and to ensure they can attend school on opening day.
     Students entering most of the pre-kindergarten programs must be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2005.
     Students entering kindergarten must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2005.
     To enter first grade, students must be 6 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2005 and should have successfully
completed kindergarten.
     Students entering Miami-Dade County’s public schools for the first time must present the following documents: proof of age; proof of a current physical examination, including a tuberculosis clinical screening (as well as appropriate follow-up if necessary); and a certificate of immunization. Additionally, two proofs of current address are required in the form of a broker’s or attorney’s statement of parents’ purchase of residence, a properly executed lease agreement, the electric deposit payment receipt or electric bill, and/or a current Homestead Exemption card. Also required is completion of a “Disclosure at Time of Registration” form, which can be obtained from Attendance Services.
     Students transferring from other school districts should provide their most recent report card or other records from the last school they attended.
     Foreign-born students will follow the same procedures indicated for the native born. First time students, both foreign-born and transfers from other states, may register at their schools. For clarification regarding foreign-born student issues, parents should contact Attendance Services, Foreign Records/Student Visa Department, at 305-884-2044 for the K-12 program, or 305-883-1445 for the adult program.
     Opening-day enrollment projections are not available, though last year’s first-day enrollment was 331,292; the last-day figure was 354,469.

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FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE MEALS

     Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) serves nutritious meals every day. Students may buy lunch for $1.25 in elementary schools and $1.50 in secondary schools. Students may pre-pay for lunch weekly or monthly by check or cash. Breakfast is served to students in all Miami-Dade County Public Schools at no charge.
Children from households that meet federal income guidelines are eligible for either free or reduced price lunch. All meals must meet criteria established by the United States Department of Agriculture. Reduced priced lunch costs 40 cents a day.
     Each school and the school system’s Department of Food and Nutrition have copies of the policies that are available to the public. M-DCPS follows the federal government’s policy of allowing students to be approved by direct certification. This provision states that students from households that receive Food Stamps or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families are eligible for direct certification. Students approved by direct certification are not required to have an application on file in order to receive lunch at no charge.
     Application forms are sent to all homes with a letter to parents or guardians at the beginning of each school year. To apply for free or reduced-price meals, parents and/or guardians of students not approved by direct certification should fill out one application per family, even if children attend different District schools, and return the application to one of the schools involved. Additional copies are available in the principal’s office at each school.
     Further information may be obtained from the school system’s Department of Food and Nutrition at 786-275-0400.

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FULL-SERVICE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OFFER HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

     Twenty-eight Miami-Dade public schools are designated as Full-Service Schools. They integrate education, medical, and/or social and human services on school grounds or at accessible locations to meet the many needs of children and their families.
     The Miami-Dade County School Board’s Full-Service Schools initiative focuses on providing incentives to schools, school districts, and state and local public and private health and human service agencies to develop collaborative relationships that improve access to services for children and their families. Also, the initiative aims to coordinate the provision of services, eliminate unnecessary duplication of services across agencies, and support children’s performance in school.
     For more information, contact Dr. Kamela Patton, Assistant Superintendent, Full-Service Schools/ABC, at 305-995-4749.

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GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

     Students looking to graduate from a Miami-Dade public high school have three options: the standard four-year, 24-credit program; or two optional accelerated graduation programs, which require students to complete 18 credits within three years. Students and their parents are to select one of these options no later than the end of ninth grade. If no selection is made, the student will be considered to have selected the four-year, 24-credit standard program.
All three options require students to earn a passing grade on the 10th-grade Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) and to successfully complete the required coursework. A grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale is a graduation requirement for the standard program, while a grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required for the two accelerated programs. The two accelerated programs are the College Preparatory Program and the Career Preparatory Program.
     The courses required for all three options in order to graduate include: four credits in language arts with major concentration in composition and literature; three credits in mathematics, including Algebra I and Geometry; three credits in science; and three credits in social science. The standard program requires additional courses, which include one semester each of Life Management Skills, Physical Education, Performing Fine Arts, and Practical Arts, and 8.5 elective credits. A community service project is also required for students in the standard four-year, 24-credit program.
     In addition to the 13 credits listed above that all students must successfully complete, those students who select the College Preparatory Program are required to successfully complete two credits in a foreign language, three elective credits; and of the 18 required credits, six must be in advanced courses. Students who select the Career Preparatory Program will have to successfully complete from three to five credits are earned in a vocational/career/education program and two elective credits, unless five credits are earned in a vocational/career/education program.
Students and their parents may obtain more information about these graduation options by contacting the middle or senior high school in which the students are enrolled.

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HEALTH CARE, STATE-REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS

      Children scheduled to enter pre-kindergarten through 12th grade for the 2005-2006 school year need to be properly immunized or they will not be allowed to enter school.
     The state’s school immunization program requires all students attending kindergarten through 12th grade to receive a second dose of measles vaccine. All children entering pre-kindergarten through 12th grade must complete a hepatitis B vaccine series in addition to already required immunizations for diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella.
     All children entering, attending or transferring into pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, third grade and fourth grade in Florida are required to have the varicella (chicken pox) vaccine, or a history, documented on DH Form 680, of varicella disease. This requirement also applies to retainees in grades pre-kindergarten through fourth grade.
     Children may attend school if they are in the process of completing their immunization series and have a valid temporary medical exemption form on file at the school. Only the Florida Department of Health Certificate of Immunization, DH Form 680, can be accepted as verification for immunization compliance.
     Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact their health care provider to schedule an appointment for children affected by the school immunization requirement. Required immunizations are covered under most health insurance policies. Children whose parents cannot afford to pay for vaccines may receive immunizations under the Vaccines For Children program, which provides vaccines free of charge at all county health department centers. For more information, contact the Special Immunization Program Office of the Department of Health at 786-845-0550.
     Miami-Dade County’s public schools provide various health screenings under the supervision of school or health-care personnel.
     Vision screenings will be conducted annually for students in kindergarten, first grade and fourth grade; new students to Florida in the remaining elementary grade levels; seventh grade; and tenth grade.  Hearing screenings will be conducted annually for students in kindergarten, first grade, second grade and fourth grade; new students to Florida in the remaining elementary grade levels; seventh grade; and tenth grade. Parents of students who fail any of the screenings or appear to have a vision or hearing problem will be advised to seek care from their health care provider.
     Each year students in grade seven are screened for scoliosis. Students in 10th grade are screened for hypertension.
When students have long-term or chronic illnesses or disabilities that require maintenance type medication, school personnel may assist students in the administration or dispensing of the medication when the medication schedule cannot be adjusted to provide for administration at home.
     A parent or guardian must sign a consent form, and a licensed health care provider must sign a written treatment plan that explains the necessity for the medication. These authorization forms need to be filed only once during the school year. When a change in medication is required, the parent or guardian and the physician must submit new authorization forms.  The principal will store the medication under lock and key in a designated area.
     For more information, contact Wilma Steiner, R.N., the school system’s supervisor of comprehensive health services, at 305-995-1235.

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FLORIDA KIDCARE: CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM

     Florida KidCare is the state’s children’s health insurance program for uninsured children under age 19. It is made up of four parts: MediKids, Healthy Kids, the Children’s Medical Services Network for children with special health care needs and Medicaid for children. At the time of application, Florida KidCare will check which program the child may be eligible for based on age and family income.
     Some Florida KidCare programs may have limited space, and applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. When MediKids, Healthy Kids and the Children’s Medical Services Network are full, enrollment for these programs will close. Medicaid is always open for children who qualify. To qualify, a child must meet income eligibility requirements and be under age 19, uninsured, a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen, not be the dependent of a state employee eligible for health insurance, and not be in a public institution.
     While there is no charge for Medicaid for children, other programs incur monthly premiums, depending on household size and income. Most families pay $15 or $20 per month. If the cost is more, Florida KidCare will inform the parent(s). There may also be small charges or co-payments for some services. A child who is a member of a federally recognized American Indian or Alaska Native tribe may qualify for no-cost Florida KidCare coverage.
     For an application or additional information, call KidCare at 1-888-540-5437, or visit www.floridakidcare.org.

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IMPORTANT DATES IN 2005-2006 SCHOOL YEAR

*Report cards will be issued on or after these dates. (Several schools may issue report cards earlier.)

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INDUSTRY FOCUS ACADEMIES AT 19 HIGH SCHOOLS

     Through the One Community One Goal® initiative, Miami-Dade County Public Schools operates 30 “industry focus academies” at 19 senior high schools. This innovative curricular model targets the five high-growth, high-wage industries of film and entertainment, biomedical, visitor, financial services and information technology /telecommunications.
     One Community One Goal®, an economic development initiative of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, was established to identify high-growth industries and future jobs in Miami-Dade County, and works closely with the school system on workforce development strategies.
     For additional information, contact Dr. Sherri Futch-James at 305-995-1922.

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MAGNET PROGRAMS: SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS

     With 76 programs at 61 locations, Miami-Dade County Public Schools has one of the largest and most exciting magnet programs in the nation.
     Called “magnets” because they attract students from throughout the county to study in specialized fields, Miami-Dade’s magnet programs feature challenging and stimulating education in such themes as Careers and Professions, Communications, International Education, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Montessori and Visual and Performing Arts.
     Further information, including a list of all magnet schools/programs with their addresses and phone numbers, may be obtained by calling Specialized Programs at 305-995-1922 or by visiting http://choice.dadeschools.net.

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NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (SES)

      Parents can now sign their children up for free tutoring! As a result of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), children can receive extra help in the areas of math, reading, and language arts. This free tutoring is available if a child’s school has been identified as “in need of improvement” because it has not made adequate yearly progress (AYP) as defined by NCLB.  M-DCPS will be holding an open enrollment period for 2005-2006 NCLB District Approved Supplemental Educational Services (DASES) or State Approved Supplemental Educational Services (SES) early in the fall, shortly after the opening of schools. Dates for the open enrollment period will be sent home with students who attend eligible schools.
      Parents that did not select an NCLB Choice option during the spring enrollment period may select either SES or DASES during the fall enrollment period. Parents interested in enrolling their children in DASES or SES must fill out a selection form at their child’s school or at one of the Supplemental Educational Services Fairs. Only the child’s parents or legal guardians will be allowed to turn in the DASES or SES application to M-DCPS staff at the schools.
      Students attending schools that have not made AYP as defined by the law for two consecutive years may be eligible to receive tutorial services before/after school or on Saturdays through DASES, a school- based program that provides instruction in reading, mathematics, and/or writing, delivered by qualified teachers at the child’s school. Services are offered to students based on their rank order; however, there is no requirement for students to be eligible for free or reduced lunch.
      Students attending schools that have not made AYP for three consecutive years may also be eligible to participate in the SES tutorial program. SES is a tutorial program offered by private providers, approved by the State of Florida, at no cost to the parent. SES services are tutorial services that must be aligned with the State’s academic content standards. Supplemental Educational Services must be provided outside of the regular school day. To be eligible to receive SES, a student must also be eligible to receive free or reduced lunch.
      An updated list of the 2005-2006 schools eligible to participate in DASES and SES can be found at the Title I Administration website at http://title1.dadeschools.net/. For additional information, contact Title I Administration at 305 995-1519, or ask at your child’s school.

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THE PARENT ACADEMY: TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN YOUR CHILD’S EDUCATION!

     The Parent Academy is an ambitious, community-wide partnership to focus on building parents’ knowledge and skills so that they in turn can bolster their children’s academic and life successes. The Academy’s courses will be divided into three categories:

• Core Courses: to help parents further their skills and knowledge to guide their children’s education effectively

• Growth Courses: to help parents increase their capacity to help themselves and, therefore, their children

• Certification Courses: to help parents extend their employability skills and employment prospects by taking certified programs or training.

     The Parent Academy includes partnerships with seven colleges and universities, 11 community-based organizations and three county/municipal governments.
     Courses, resources and other opportunities will be offered at more than 80 locations, including public libraries, college and university campuses and migrant farm-worker camps.
Plans are underway to provide childcare, transportation and financial assistance for materials, supplies and certification programs.
     The Parent Academy is scheduled to open in Fall 2005.
     For additional information, contact The Parent Academy office at 305-995-2680 or via the web at theparentacademy.dadeschools.net/.

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PARENT INVOLVEMENT: HELPING YOUR CHILD SUCCEED

     Parent involvement is a key element in a child’s success in school. Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) suggests a variety of ways for parents to take an active role in their children’s education:

• Help your child develop good study habits. Provide your child with a quiet, well-lit area and a desk or table to do homework each afternoon or evening.

• Make sure your child is rested, nourished and emotionally prepared to study. Provide encouragement and guidance, but let your child attempt to resolve challenging homework tasks on his or her own.

• Get to know your child’s teachers early in the school year, and communicate regularly with the teachers about your child’s progress. Discuss your child’s problems and work together to correct them. Be sure to review the progress reports and report cards your child receives during the school year.

     Teacher conferences can easily be arranged through the school office. In middle and senior high schools, you may contact your child’s guidance counselor for assistance in scheduling conferences. If you are unable to go to your child’s school, you may wish to send a note or e-mail to your child’s teacher to arrange a telephone conversation. You also may log on to the district website www2.dadeschools.net/index.htm, click on “schools” and search for school websites.
     During the critical adolescent years, parents need to maintain honest and ongoing communication with their children. Help them become full partners in communicating with their teachers, making academic decisions and planning their futures.
     M-DCPS has a downtown Parent Involvement Office, plus an advocacy director in each of its six Region Centers who is responsible for providing parents with appropriate support and assistance.
     Becoming involved in school activities and meetings, joining the school’s PTA or Educational Excellence School Advisory Council (EESAC), and attending the school’s annual Open House are all excellent ways to become involved.
At your child’s school, you will find a designated place for parent information such as notices of meetings, workshops and other activities.
     Be sure to familiarize yourself with the School Board policy on parental involvement (6Gx13-1B-1.011, Parental Involvement – A Home- School Partnership), which delineates the rights and responsibilities of parents and of M-DCPS personnel and others who work together to meet the needs of all students.
     For further information, call the contact on the notices, inquire at your child’s school, or contact Parent Involvement Office Director Yvonne Lim-Petersen at 305-995-2680.

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REGION CENTERS

     Miami-Dade County Public Schools is subdivided into six Region Centers. Each center consists of an assistant superintendent and staff responsible for providing support and assistance to parents and students.
     Parents’ questions or issues regarding their child’s school that are not resolved at the school level may be addressed to a Region Center director. If the parents are not satisfied with the outcome, they may appeal the decision to the Region Center assistant superintendent.
     Questions relating to boundaries, attendance and transfer policies can be answered at the Region Center. Addresses and telephone numbers of these offices are:

     Each Region Center oversees senior high schools and their respective feeder-pattern schools. The senior high schools within each Region Center are listed below:

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MIAMI-DADE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD

     The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida exercises legislative authority over the school system and determines policy in accordance with Florida laws. Each elected official of the nine-member board represents a specific district within the county.
     The School Board generally meets once each month on a Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the first-floor auditorium of the School Board Administration Building (SBAB), 1450 N.E. Second Ave. Approved dates are posted in the Citizen Information Center, SBAB Room 158, and on Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ website: www2.dadeschools.net/schoolboard/meetings/schedule_2005.htm. Meetings are open to the public and are broadcast live on WLRN-TV Channel 17 and on WLRN-FM 91.3 as well as webcast on www.wlrn.org.
     Interested citizens may address the board on matters listed on the agenda or topics not listed on the agenda by filing a written request with the Citizen Information Center by 4:30 p.m. on the Monday before the meeting. Matters not listed on the agenda are addressed only during public hearings, which are held no later than 6:30 p.m., or at the conclusion of the regular meeting. Deadlines and procedures, which differ when the Monday deadline is not met, can be obtained by contacting the Citizen Information Center at 305-995-1128. Anyone wishing the service of either a Spanish or Haitian-Creole interpreter when speaking before the Board must request that service in their written request to speak.
     Forms are available at all Region Centers and at the Citizen Information Center, SBAB Room 158. The fax number is 305-995-1151.
     School Board members’ offices are located at the School Board Administration Building. Board members may be contacted at 305-995-1334.

Members of The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida:

• Chair Frank J. Bolaños (District 5)

• Vice Chair Robert B. Ingram (District 1)

• Agustin J. Barrera (District 6)

• Evelyn Langlieb Greer (District 9)

• Perla Tabares Hantman (District 4)

• Martin Karp (District 3)

• Ana Rivas Logan (District 7)

• Marta Pérez (District 8)

• Solomon C. Stinson (District 2)

CITIZEN INFORMATION CENTER

     Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Citizen Information Center is the place to go for answers to general questions about the school system. Located in Room 158 of the SBAB, 1450 N. E. Second Ave., the center also provides the public with documents, general information and agendas for the School Board meetings.
Citizens can contact the center at 305-995-1128 or visit Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The M-DCPS website, www.dadeschools.net, also offers a variety of information about the school system.

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FIVE-YEAR SCHOOL-CHOICE PLAN BEGINS PHASE III THIS FALL

     Miami-Dade students continue to have much greater choice in which public school they attend. The “I Choose: Miami-Dade County Public Schools” initiative is expanding under the United States Department of Education’s Voluntary Public School Choice program funded by a $14.6 million federal grant. Under the slogan “I Choose: Miami-Dade County Public Schools,” participating schools build on successful programs by replicating popular curriculum choices, while remaining innovative in the implementation of selected themes.
     As the third year of the project begins, approximately 45,000 students in “School Choice Zone 1” and 60,000 students in “School Choice Zone 2,” are eligible to cross traditional attendance boundaries and enroll in their choice of 10 elementary schools, two middle schools and four high schools. Specialized programs or enhanced curriculum are offered in these schools as follows:

• Thena C. Crowder Elementary School, A Learning Village - Caring, Community and Careers
• Earlington Heights Elementary School - International Education
• Lillie C. Evans Elementary School - Literacy Through the Arts
• Holmes Elementary School - Aerospace Science School of Discovery
• Martin Luther King Elementary School - Early Reading Program
• Lorah Park Elementary School - International Education
• Liberty City Elementary School - A Preparatory School
• Melrose Elementary School - Global Studies/International Ambassadors
• Poinciana Park Elementary School - Medical Arts/Math/Science/Technology
• Dr. Henry S. Mack/West Little River Elementary School - Leap Frog: Math and Science
• Brownsville Middle School - Global Studies Academy
• Riviera Middle School - Music Industry Experience (MIX)
• John A. Ferguson Senior High School - International Baccalaureate
• Robert Morgan Educational Center - All Academy Senior High School
• Booker T. Washington Senior High School - Academy of Foreign Languages and International Relations; Academy of Finance

     For more information regarding the “I Choose: Miami-Dade County Public Schools” initiative, contact Specialized Programs at 305-995-1922 or visit the School Choice website at http://choice.dadeschools.net.

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STUDENTS TO EXPLORE ARRAY OF PROGRAM CHOICES AT M-DCPS
SCHOOL DISCOVERY SHOWCASE, NOV. 5

     The School Discovery Showcase will take place Saturday, Nov. 5, from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition’s Arnold Hall, Coral Way and S.W. 112 Ave.
     This Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS)/Fair-sponsored event gives students and their families an opportunity to explore the many choices the school system offers to help students prepare for future employment and higher education. While geared toward helping eighth- and ninth-grade students and their parents select high school level career courses and programs, the SHOWCASE will offer beneficial information for students at all grade levels, including adult students.
     Highlights include early registration opportunities for the 2006-2007 school year and exhibits by the school system’s magnet programs, student career academies, charter schools and adult and technical education centers.
A computer career center, counseling center, practice job interviews and information sessions also will be available. Local businesses will have exhibits as well with information about job opportunities for M-DCPS graduates.
     Student performances will be featured and on-site child-care services will be provided.
     Admission to the event is free.
     For more information call 305-995-1922.

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SCHOOL SAFETY

     School safety is a priority at Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Below you will find information on how to report a crime and on our truancy program designed to keep our children safe and in school.
     To help students and staff feel more at ease in reporting school crime, they are encouraged to call 1-877-7BE-BRAVE, a 24-hour hotline allowing anonymous reporting of actual or anticipated school crime. The toll-free hotline is answered by trained personnel who record the reported information and ensure a prompt response by the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department or other appropriate law enforcement agency. Similarly, the District’s Crime Stoppers Program allows the public to dial 305-471-TIPS to disclose information while remaining anonymous. Tipsters may be eligible for cash rewards.
     Persons needing assistance that is not an emergency may contact 305-757-COPS, a 24-hour “call for service” number.
     Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) and the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office are partners in the innovative Truancy Intervention Program (TIP).
     TIP is aimed at reducing juvenile crime in Miami-Dade County as well as at getting students to attend school on a consistent basis. The program combines early intervention with prosecutorial enforcement of Florida’s compulsory education laws. Early intervention helps correct the factors that lead to chronic school absenteeism and has proven to be the crucial piece in the program’s success.
     In place at all of Miami-Dade County’s public elementary schools, TIP has succeeded in reducing truancy and violations of M-DCPS’ Code of Student Conduct, as well as improving scholastic achievement, among almost 90 percent of the children in the program.
     Parents and/or guardians of the students who attend schools participating in TIP will receive letters this fall advising them of their responsibility to ensure their children’s regular school attendance and to comply with state laws. TIP is the largest cooperative effort undertaken by Miami-Dade’s State Attorney’s Office and M-DCPS. It also is the only one of its kind in Florida.
     For more information, call the Department of Special Programs’ Truancy Intervention Program Hotline at 305-995-2755.

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SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION

     Miami-Dade County Public Schools will transport more than 72,000 students a day this school year, using a fleet of 1,600 buses on an estimated 1,400 school-bus routes. The service is for students who live more than two miles from their assigned schools, and for exceptional-education students.
     Before school begins, parents of all students eligible for bus transportation will receive a card from the school system’s computer center identifying the student’s bus stop and times of pickup and delivery.
Parents interested in determining their child’s transportation eligibility should contact their child’s school for information.
     Students and parents with questions about school bus transportation also may call the school system’s transportation hotline at 305-995-7555, July 28 through Aug. 19, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

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SCHOOL VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

     More than 72,000 volunteers will give their time this year to help students in M-DCPS. School volunteers offer their services in more than 25 areas, including mentoring and tutoring students in a wide variety of subjects to simply listening to students in need of an adult friend. Volunteers have offered our students over 8,005,098 hours of service, which translates to an estimated value of $1,360,866,000.
     Volunteers must complete a registration form, and background checks are conducted to maintain a safe learning environment for students.
     All volunteers in the following categories must be fingerprinted: mentors, athletic assistants and overnight chaperones as well as volunteers in the Listeners, Oyentes, and Certified Volunteers programs.
     For additional information, contact the Office of Community Services School Volunteer Program at 305-995-1439 or visit http://community.dadeschools.net.

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STANDARDIZED TESTING

     The achievement and progress of students in Miami-Dade County Public Schools are measured each year with the help of district, state and national standardized tests. Some of the major tests are listed below.
     The Stanford Achievement Test (SAT) is a nationally normed achievement test used to compare local students’ performance in priority study areas with the performance of students in the nation. In March 2006, the SAT will be administered to second-grade students to assess reading and mathematics skills.
     Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) assesses the development of pre-reading and early reading skills. DIBELS will be administered to students in kindergarten through grade 3 in September 2005, November 2005, and January 2006.
     All kindergarten students are assessed for school readiness during the first 30 days of school as part of the state’s School Readiness Uniform Screening System (SRUSS). The assessment measures kindergarten students’ speech, language, mathematical thinking, physical development and visual/motor skills.
     The grade 3 Reading Student Portfolio measures proficiency of selected Sunshine State Standards in reading. The portfolio will be administered to students in grade 3 throughout the second semester of the school year.
The FCAT Writing + assesses students’ ability to organize and clearly express their thoughts in writing. The FCAT Writing + will be administered to students in fourth, eighth and tenth grades in February 2006.
     The FCAT Sunshine State Standards (SSS) test designed to assess levels of student proficiency as they relate to the SSS benchmarks, will be administered March 2006. The FCAT SSS measures students’ reading and mathematics skills in third through tenth grades. Students in grades 5, 8 and 11 also will take the science portion of the FCAT.
Tenth-grade students must earn a passing score on the Grade 10 FCAT SSS in order to meet the high school standard diploma graduation test requirement. Students who do not earn passing scores on both the reading and mathematics portions of the Grade 10 FCAT SSS will have additional opportunities to pass the test in eleventh grade and above, on the October 2005, March 2006 and June 2006 administrations.
     The FCAT Norm-Referenced Test (NRT) compares the performance of Florida’s students to the performance of a national norm group. The FCAT NRT Reading and Mathematics will be administered to students in third through tenth grades in March 2006.
     Students also have the option of participating in the following programs offered by The College Board and ACT, Inc.:

• The PSAT, offered by The College Board, will administered to all students in 10th grade and to interested students in 11th grade in October 2005. In an attempt to build college readiness and to support more rigorous course selection among Florida’s high school students, the state of Florida has formed a partnership with The College Board. The Florida Partnership encourages all students to participate in the PSAT by paying 10th grade students’ test fees.
• The PSAT provides practice for the SAT and is also the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship program.
• The SAT, offered by The College Board, and the ACT, offered by ACT, Inc., are optional college-entrance tests that students may take at scheduled times throughout the school year. Students taking the SAT or ACT can request that their scores be sent to the colleges or universities of their choice.

     Test results are made available in a timely fashion to students and their families. Results of district and state testing programs are sent home with students by the respective schools. Parents needing assistance in interpreting these scores should contact their children’s teachers or guidance counselors.
For more information about these and other tests, check the training calendar on the district’s website at www.dadeschools.net.

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STUDENT ABSENCES

     Middle-school and high-school students with 10 or more unexcused absences in an annual course or five or more unexcused absences in a designated semester course during a school year risk the withholding of their final passing grades pending an administrative screening and/or review of all absences by a school attendance review committee.
A student’s illness, a medical appointment, a death in the family, the observance of a religious holiday, or a school-sponsored event or previously approved activity are the only acceptable reasons for a student to be granted an excused absence. Parents are encouraged to call the school when it is anticipated that a student will be absent.
     Students with excused absences have the opportunity to make up all missed work within a reasonable length of time. Students whose absence(s) is unexcused may receive an “F” on the work missed.
     Also, attendance data on age appropriate students who are habitual truants (15 or more unexcused absences within 90 calendar days) is submitted to the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles where a block is put on their names so they cannot apply for a driver’s license. If a habitual truant already has a driver’s license, it may be suspended. The individual is advised by mail of this and of the process to get the license back.

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STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT

     Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Code of Student Conduct, reinforced with a tough policy on deadly weapons, focuses on providing and maintaining a safe and positive learning environment for students, faculty, staff and community.
     A major consideration in the application of the Code of Student Conduct is to identify the most appropriate disciplinary action for bringing about positive student behavior. Toward that end, the violations have been divided into six groups, along with both recommended and mandated disciplinary actions.
     Teachers, counselors and administrators work to use a variety of progressive disciplinary or guidance strategies prior to, during and after formal disciplinary action. The principal or teacher, or both, consistent with the powers delegated to them, have the authority to take additional administrative action if, in their opinion, the nature of the misconduct warrants.
     Differences in age and maturity are recognized in determining the types of disciplinary action to be taken. However, the procedures outlined in the code apply to all students under the jurisdiction of Miami-Dade County Public Schools. The code is in force during regular school hours, while students are being transported on a school bus and at such times and places – including but not necessarily limited to school-sponsored events, field trips, athletic functions and other activities – where appropriate school administrators have jurisdiction over students.
     Principals are authorized to take administrative action whenever a student's misconduct away from school has a detrimental effect upon other students or on the orderly educational process. Types of violations range from general disruptive conduct to aggravated battery (injury with a deadly weapon).
     The Code of Student Conduct mandates that students who carry handguns, threaten people with deadly weapons, make bomb threats or false reports or injure a teacher or staff member be removed from their school at once and receive the most severe disciplinary action allowed by law. The code warns that the possession of a firearm on school property may result in criminal penalties in addition to suspension, expulsion or other school disciplinary action.
     Several types of disciplinary action exist for improper conduct and behavior. These include detention, work assignments, reassignment to a special school or program, suspension or expulsion.
     The "work back" program gives students recommended for expulsion, except for violators of Group 6 violations, the option of working to return to regular classes earlier than the maximum expulsion time permitted under state law. Students must attend an alternative program, earn credit and maintain good attendance and behavior. The work back program is not an option for students charged with Group 6 violations: aggravated assault or aggravated battery with a deadly weapon or possession of a firearm.
     The code addresses students' rights and responsibilities pertaining to the right to learn; attendance; students' records; grades; free speech, expression and assembly; and publications. It also outlines parents' rights in regard to assuring their child's opportunity for an education.
     Students or parents having problems interpreting the code should address concerns through the school principal. Additionally, should the concerns not be resolved at the school level, an appeal can be made at the region office and subsequently at the district Office of Alternative Education and Dropout Prevention Programs.

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STUDENT DRESS CODE

     Miami-Dade County Public Schools has a dress code for students that is strictly enforced. The dress code exists to ensure that a student’s appearance does not disrupt health, safety, cleanliness or the learning environment. The code is not intended to regulate hair length or types of clothing worn.
     The determination of what constitutes a safety or health hazard, distraction of students from a classroom activity, or the disruption of a school program is made by the principal, teacher or other concerned School Board employee.
Students may be disciplined for violating the code only after being given an opportunity to correct the violation and after a parent-teacher conference.
     A number of schools have received School Board approval to adopt stricter dress codes that ban such clothing as T-shirts, tank tops, hats, thongs and clothes bearing messages about tobacco, alcohol, profanity, drugs or sex.
Moreover, many schools have adopted student uniforms in order to encourage students to improve their study habits and to identify more closely with their schools.
     Parents wishing further information on school dress code regulations should contact their child’s principal.

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STUDENT RECORDS AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

     The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and section 1002.22, Florida Statutes, protect the privacy of, and guarantee parents, guardians and students access to, information contained in student educational records, and provide the right to challenge the accuracy of these records.
     These laws provide that without the prior consent of the parent, guardian or eligible student, a student's records may not be released except in accordance with the provisions listed in the above-cited laws. The laws provide certain exceptions to the prior consent requirement to the release of student records, which include, but are not limited to, school officials with a legitimate educational interest and lawfully issued subpoenas and court orders. To ensure compliance with these laws, the school system has published detailed instructions for maintaining and releasing student records. These instructions may be found in the Student Educational Records Manual, which is incorporated by reference in School Board Rule 6GX13-5B-1.07.
     Each school must provide to the parents, guardians or eligible students annual notice in writing of their right to inspect and review student records. Once a student reaches 18 years of age or is attending an institution of post-secondary education, the permission or consent required of, and the rights accorded to, the parents shall thereafter be required of and accorded to the student only, unless the student qualifies as a dependent under the law.
Students should contact their school registrar if they wish to send transcripts to colleges or scholarship services.

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WLRN PUBLIC TV, RADIO SERVE SOUTH FLORIDA COMMUNITY

     Public Broadcasting System (PBS) affiliates WLRN-TV Channel 17 and Digital Television Channel 20, as well as National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate WLRN-FM 91.3, are licensed to the Miami-Dade School Board.
WLRN-TV Channel 17 is recognized as Florida’s leading Ready to Learn (RTL) station, combining quality PBS children’s television programs with a variety of community outreach efforts to help children build learning skills. RTL serves low-income families by providing free community workshops and resources for parents, teachers and childcare providers.
     WLRN- FM 91.3, Florida’s top-rated NPR station, serves a weekly audience of more than 300,000, from Palm Beach to Key West, providing programs such as Morning Edition, All Things Considered, A Prairie Home Companion and Car Talk. It also provides one of the country’s largest Radio Reading Services - a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week service to South Florida’s visually impaired residents.
     WLRN manages the district’s Video and Film Library, which is a lending library that makes available for loan videos that support all phases of educational instruction throughout Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Additionally, WLRN operates and programs 20 Instructional Television Fixed Service channels that provide students and teachers with a host of video choices, including Teacher’s Choice, a video-on-demand service that allows teachers to access at their convenience, via phone or the Internet; educational video titles; and teacher training materials.
For additional information, please call 305-995-1717.

Radyo Lekòl - Haitian-American Community with Education News
     Radyo Lekòl, Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ half-hour education news program in Haitian-Creole, airs Monday-Friday at 9 p.m. on 91.3 FM, Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. on 1020 AM and Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. on 1610 AM.
For more information call Carline Faustin of the Bureau of Cultural Communications, at 305-995-2192.

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