2006-2007 Back-to-School Tool Kit

ACCELERATION THROUGH DUAL ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITIES

       Dual Enrollment is a state-sponsored program in which high school students take college classes and are given both college and high school credit. The state pays for the cost of the tuition and the District pays for the textbooks. Because students take these classes on a college campus, students are responsible for their own transportation.
       Depending on the specific course, students in Dual Enrollment classes are awarded either one or two bonus points applied toward their weighted GPA. Students must have completed the ninth grade in order to participate in Dual Enrollment. In addition, students must have a 3.0 unweighted GPA and must pass the College Placement Test or achieve the required minimum score on the SAT or ACT. 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:

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 contact the hotline at 305-558-8000.

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BEFORE, AFTER-SCHOOL CARE AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

This year 209 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 designed to provide participants with 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.

These programs are offered by one of four providers: Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), the Young Women’s Christian Association (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 logging on to http://sacc.dadeschools.net, or by calling 305-253-9920, extension 2194.

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, presented in Spanish and/or Haitian Creole, 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, and/or limited English proficient parents. Free childcare is provided for seminar participants.

A schedule of seminars may be obtained by calling Dr. Yvonne Lim-Petersen, Division of Bilingual Education and World Languages at 305-995-1920 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 50 charter schools currently in operation in Miami-Dade County with an additional 12 scheduled to open in Fall 2006.
       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://charterschools.dadeschools.net/.

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CHOICE PROGRAMS

       Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) continues to develop programs and schools under post-unitary status that meet the needs of students and prepare them for the world of work. In support of the district initiative to expand choice programs that promote equity and equal access, M-DCPS has 119 choice programs available that include magnet programs, controlled choice, satellite learning centers, innovative choice schools (I Choose!), and K-8 Centers.
       Magnet programs attract students countywide to study in specialized fields. Our magnets 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.
       Controlled choice, I Choose! programs, and schools offer an open enrollment option to residents of specific geographical boundaries of the county instead of an assigned home school. Two satellite centers offer employees of Mt. Sinai Medical Center and Assurant Solutions the option to enroll their children and attend school at the work site. In addition, K-8 centers offer parents the option of keeping their children on the same grounds through their eighth-grade year, or moving into a traditional middle school.
       Further information, including a list of all these programs, addresses and telephone numbers, may be obtained by calling Specialized Programs – Schools of Choice, at 305-995-1922, or visiting http://choice.dadeschools.net.

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 advisors 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 180 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 advisor in the Student Services Department or call the Division of Student Services at 305-995-1743.

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 180 colleges and universities at the 2007 National College Fair in Miami from noon-4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 18, at the Sheraton Miami Mart Hotel (formerly the Radisson Mart), 777 N.W. 72 Ave.

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 Vice Chair 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.nacacnet.org.

COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES AT AFFORDABLE PRICES

Miami-Dade County Public Schools has 32 community schools and 18 adult education sites offering classes in just about every subject- from yoga to foreign languages to photography -either free or at very affordable prices. Most courses are offered in the afternoon or evening.

Over 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 305-253-9920, extension 2194 or log on to http://sacc.dadeschools.net.

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.

• 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 and science 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 Valtena Brown, Administrative Director, Division of Mathematics, or Cyd Heyliger-Browne, Interim Administrative Director, Division of Science Education, at 305-995-2341.

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 Services implements the Comprehensive Student Services Program, a pre-K to adult program based on a Student Development Framework that addresses each student’s academic, personal/social, community/career, and health and wellness needs. The program drives the services provided by the team of guidance counselors, College Assistance Program (CAP) advisors, career specialists, TRUST specialists, Safe Schools Specialists, school social workers, school psychologists, District Crisis Management Team, and health screeners.

The goal of student services 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 and wellness 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 Services at 305-995-7338 or visit http://studentservices.dadeschools.net.

COMPREHENSIVE READING PLAN
K-12 COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH-BASED READING PROGRAM (CRRP)

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;

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

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

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

       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 CRRP 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.

In 1978, Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) created the Dade Partners program to link business and community resources with area schools. The program invites businesses, community leaders, local agencies and nonprofits to become decision makers and participants in Miami-Dade County public education.

Since its inception, Dade Partners has grown to more than 3,850 entities, who have formed over 3,000 partnerships between their organization and our schools. Together these partners continue to share their expertise and provide our schools a multitude of resources, including mentorships and internships, classroom supplies and materials, as well as funding for teacher and student recognition events.

For more information about Dade Partners, please contact Christina Scott, Supervisor, Dade Partners program, at 305-995-2775.

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 - 8:00 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.

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.

EXTENDED FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROGRAM

The Extended Foreign Language (EFL) program is implanted as a “school within a school” model 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.

THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FAIR & EXPOSITION

The Fair will open its doors on March 15th this year to showcase students’ talents and provide families with 18 days of fun! The Fair also provides students with a two-thousand dollar non-renewable scholarship to attend an accredited college, university or certified trade school program. High school seniors or Adult/Vocational students must apply at their school sites. All recipients will be honored at a dinner ceremony at The Fair.

The Walter B. Arnold Youth Hall of Fame award offered by the Fair was created to recognize students in grades 6-12 to reward their outstanding service to their school and/or community. All finalists are honored at a dinner ceremony at The Fair and receive a $100 and a plaque. Inductees to The Youth Hall of Fame receive $1000 each and their portrait will hang in their honor on the Youth Wall of Fame at The Fair. Students must apply at their schools.

For more information on these and other Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition projects, exhibits and opportunities please log onto The Fair website at www.fairexpo.com, or contact Diana Venturini, Director, at the Office of Community Services at Miami-Dade County Public Schools at 305-995-1367.

FALL REGISTRATION AND SCHOOL HOURS

       Miami-Dade County’s public schools will open their doors Monday, August 14 to start the 2006-2007 school year. The 39 schools in the School Improvement Zone will start the school year on August 7.

       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, http://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, 2006.

       Students entering kindergarten must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2006.

       To enter first grade, students must be 6 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2006 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 330,718; the last-day figure was 349,574.

FIVE-YEAR SCHOOL-CHOICE PLAN

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 11 elementary schools, three middle schools and four high schools. Specialized programs or enhanced curriculum are offered in these schools as follows:

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.

FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE MEALS

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) serves nutritious meals every day. 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.

NON-DISCRIMINATION: In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20250-9410, or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal-opportunity provider and employer.

FULL-SERVICE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OFFER HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Nineteen Miami-Dade public schools are designated as Full Service Schools. They integrate education, medical, and/or social and human services on school grounds to meet the many needs of children and their families.

The 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.

The Children’s Trust, Miami-Dade County Public Schools and the Miami-Dade County Health Department along with community partners developed “Health Connect in Our Schools” (HCiOS) during the 2005-2006 school year to address student health and mental health issues in an equitable fashion in all Miami-Dade County schools. Teams of professionals and paraprofessionals (health and mental health providers) will be stationed at over 70 schools during school year 2006-2007. Each successive school year thereafter, an increasing number of schools will receive a health/mental health team.

The goal is to have 100 percent of schools covered by a health/mental health team by 2011. The aim of HCiOS is to connect students to a permanent medical/mental health home outside of the school setting where prevention and promotion of healthy practices lead students and their families to healthier lives as well as improved student achievement.

For more information, contact Ms. Deborah Montilla, Administrative Director, Division of Student Services, Comprehensive Health Program, Full Service Schools and Health Connect in Our Schools 305 995-7324.

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 the accelerated graduation 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 Grade 10 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 graduation options are the College Preparatory Track and the Career Preparatory Track.

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 general 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 Track are required to successfully complete two credits in the same foreign language, three elective credits; and of the 18 required credits, six must be in advanced academic courses, i.e., honors or AP. Students who select the Career Preparatory Track 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 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.

HEALTH CARE, STATE-REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS

Children scheduled to enter pre-kindergarten through 12th grade for the 2006-2007 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, fourth grade and fifth 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 fifth 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 Miami-Dade County 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, third grade, sixth grade, tenth grade, and new students to Florida in second grade, fourth grade and fifth grade.

Hearing screenings will be conducted annually for students in kindergarten, first grade, second grade, third grade, sixth grade, tenth grade and new students to Florida in the fourth grade and fifth 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 the sixth grade are screened for scoliosis. Students in 10th grade are screened for hypertension.

Behavioral health screenings are a requirement of the district’s Safe Schools/Healthy Students Program, all sixth grades in the district will receive a behavioral health screening to address barriers to academic achievement and social/personal adjustment. School and community services will be available to assist identified students.

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.

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.

IMPORTANT DATES IN 2006-2007 SCHOOL YEAR

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_2006.html. 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 at approximately 6:30 p.m. 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.

Request for appearance before the School Board forms are available at all Regional 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.

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 School Board Administration Building, 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, online at cic.dadeschools.net or visit Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ website, www.dadeschools.net, also offers a variety of information about the school system.

HIRE TOMORROW’S BEST TALENT – TODAY!

Community leaders and corporate CEO’s have a chance to enter the doors of the new global workplace and become full partners in our efforts to nurture and train a workforce for the 21st century.

Superintendent Rudy Crew’s Secondary School Reform (SSR) Plan, which begins this school year, is a roadmap for substantively altering the educational experience of all middle and senior high school students in the District, to assure that future graduates have the skills that they will need to effectively compete in the new global workplace. It serves as the launching point to engage business and community leaders to re-invest in an invigorated, energized, rigorous public school system.

Opportunities to participate include hosting internship experiences for senior high school students during the upcoming school year. Online registration materials and informational tools can be found on the District’s website, www.dadeschools.net.

For additional information, contact the Office of Community Services at 305-995-2592.

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” for three (3) consecutive years because it has not made adequate yearly progress (AYP) as defined by NCLB. Miami-Dade County Public Schools will be holding an enrollment period for 2006-2007 State Approved Supplemental Educational Services (SES) early in the Fall. Dates for the enrollment period will be sent home with students who attend eligible schools.

Students attending schools that have not made AYP for three consecutive years and who are eligible to receive free or reduced price lunch may 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. Parents interested in enrolling their children in SES must fill out an enrollment form available at their child’s school, on-line at http://nclbchoice.dadeschools.net or at one of the Information Fairs.

An updated list of the 2006-2007 schools eligible to participate in SES can be found at http://nclbchoice.dadeschools.net. For additional information, contact 305-995-FIND(3463), Title I administration at 305 995-1519, or ask at your child’s school.

Parental Choice Information Fairs Sites for the SES Fall Enrollment 2006-2007 School Year

Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Campbell Drive Middle
900 N.E. 23 Ave., Homestead

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

The job of parenting isn’t easy. It doesn’t come with a handbook of answers. That’s why Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) created The Parent Academy – a source to help answer parents’ questions on topics that impact children’s lives, including helping children learn, parenting skills, health care and financial management.

The Parent Academy offers free classes and workshops at more than 80 sites throughout the County at public schools, libraries, parks, colleges, private businesses and neighborhood centers. A schedule of courses with English, Spanish and Creole offerings is available at www.theparentacademy.net. Join more than 18,000 parents who have already completed a Parent Academy class!

The Parent Academy provides scholarships for parents enrolled in the GED program to take the exam on their first try for free.

Watch for The Parent Academy’s exciting family learning events that encourage the entire family to learn together. The themed events are held monthly at fun, educational and culturally enriching museums and local attractions, and combine academics, exploration and discovery while promoting positive parent-child interactions.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT: THE KEY TO STUDENT SUCCESS

As students head back to class, parents are full of hope for their children’s success. The most important thing parents can do is to become involved in their student’s education. The Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) Office of Parental Involvement, in collaboration with the six Regional Center Advocacy Directors, provides assistance and support for parents and schools to develop effective partnerships

Parents are encouraged to attend school activities and meetings, especially the annual Open House and other orientation meetings. Joining the schools’ PTA or PTSA and participating in the Educational Excellence School Advisory Council (EESAC) are other excellent ways to be involved. This participation is important at every level of your child’s education, especially in the critical adolescent years. Parents need to maintain open and honest communication and to work together with the teachers to assist students in making academic decisions and planning for the future.

Parents will find a parent resource center in every school, where they can obtain information about educational and parenting issues and learn about meetings and workshops. Many reports are provided throughout the year to assist parents in monitoring their student’s success, as well as the overall performance of the school. The School Board policy on parental involvement (6Gx13-1B-1.011, Parental Involvement – A Home- School Partnership) delineates the rights and responsibilities of parents as they work with the school to ensure student success.

For further information, parents should contact the school administration, or contact the Office of Parental Involvement at 305-995-2680.

REGION CENTERS

Miami-Dade County Public Schools is subdivided into six Regional 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 Regional Center director. If the parents are not satisfied with the outcome, they may appeal the decision to the Regional Center assistant superintendent.

Questions relating to boundaries, attendance and transfer policies can be answered at the Regional 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:

SCHOOL SAFETY

Safety and security is of paramount importance to Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Below is information on how to report crimes that occur on school sites and additional information on the truancy program. Both programs are designed to keep children safe 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 Programs 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 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.

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 31 through Aug. 25, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

SCHOOL VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

The School Volunteer Program currently has over 104,000 registered volunteers. School volunteers offer their services in many areas, including mentoring, tutoring, classroom assistants, field trip chaperones and much more. Volunteers have offered more than nine million hours of service, which translates to an estimated value of more than $1.7 billion.

The School Volunteer Program on-line registration system offers schools a quicker way to register new volunteer applicants and monitor their clearances after the background check is completed. It offers great communication between the schools and the District’s School Volunteer Office.

The background check that a volunteer receives is contingent upon the role of that volunteer. If a volunteer has chosen one of the following roles, they must get the fingerprint background check:

All other volunteer roles require the lower-level background check, which consists of an electronic database search.

The School Volunteer Program is growing and changing in exciting ways. To learn more about this program and how you can become involved, visit our website in the Office of Community Services at http://community.dadeschools.net and click on School Volunteer Program, or call 305-995-1439.

STANDARDIZED TESTING

The achievement and progress of students in Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) 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 2007, the SAT will be administered to second-grade students to assess reading and mathematics skills. The SAT reading test will also be administered to first-grade students enrolled in schools participating in the Reading First Program.

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 2006, November 2006, and January 2007.

All kindergarten students are assessed for school readiness during the first 30 days of school as part of the state’s Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener (FLKRS). The FLKRS measures the skills, growth and development of early literacy skills needed for success in kindergarten

The new State Comprehensive English Learning Assessment (CELLA) is a four-skill English-language proficiency assessment that will be administered this Fall and Spring to all students in grades K-12 classified as Limited English Proficient (LEP). The CELLA tests listening, reading, writing and speaking, and the results will provide information about students’ strengths and weaknesses in English and their overall progress over time.

The District’s Interim Assessments will be given for the first time to students in grades 3-10 in October, January and April/May. These tests, designed to measure Florida’s standards and benchmarks in reading and mathematics, will be used by teachers to identify students’ strengths and weaknesses, to target instruction and to monitor students’ progress.

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 2007.

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 2007. 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 September 2006, March 2007 and June 2007 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.:

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 testing calendar on the district’s website at www.dadeschools.net. Additional information about each testing program is available at http://oada.dadeschools.net/saet/assessment.asp.

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 with unexcused absence(s) 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.

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.

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.

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.

WLRN PUBLIC TV, RADIO SERVE SOUTH FLORIDA COMMUNITY

Public Broadcasting System (PBS) affiliate WLRN-TV Channel 17 and 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.

Channel 17 also broadcasts award-winning PBS documentaries, biographies and music programs, such as Nature, American Experience and Great Performances. Viewers can watch public television’s most popular weekly programs, including Antiques Roadshow, Globe Trekker, and other travel, cooking and home improvement programs.

WLRN also produces several local programs, including the following monthly series: ArtStreet, which introduces South Florida to the arts explosion; WLRN Perspectives, which explores issues and trends that are impacting South Florida’s social, cultural and economic environment; Celebrate South Florida, which takes viewers on a journey of discovery about interesting people, places and events in our own backyard; and Class Act, which presents the exciting world of Miami-Dade County Public Schools and the positive impact it is making in the lives of children and the community.

WLRN- FM 91.3, Florida’s top-rated NPR station, serves a weekly audience of more than 315,000, 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 (ITV) 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 the Internet; educational video titles; and teacher training materials.

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, Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. on 1610 AM, and additionally, a 10-minute program on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. on 1580 AM.

For more information call Carline Faustin of the Bureau of Cultural Communications, at 305-995-1188.