College Football Playoff Foundation, 2021 Miami Host Committee Partner with M-DCPS for Impact Strategy Platform for South Florida

Focus Supports District’s Middle School Redesign Through Creation of Innovation Spaces

CFP CONTACT: Brett Daniels, 469-262-5200

M-DCPS CONTACT: Daisy Gonzalez-Diego, dgonzalezdiego@dadeschools.net

HOST COMMITTEE CONTACT: Jennifer Valdes, jennifer.valdes@rbbcommunications.com

The College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation and the 2021 Miami Host Committee announced their impact strategy platform in Miami, centered on a strong partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS). The strategy provides significant support for the District’s innovative Middle School Redesign (MSR) initiative by creating Innovation Spaces in middle schools. The CFP National Championship is scheduled to be played in Miami in January 2021.

A $2 million partnership, made possible by a $1 million dollar match provided by the CFP Foundation and Host Committee, will fund the overall project. This investment is enabling the transformation of at least 16 school media centers into spaces with enhanced technology, modular and flexible furniture that provide infinite configurations and bolster comfort and creativity, exciting colors, carpets and wall wrappings throughout the spaces. The donation also includes Virtual Reality (VR) headsets. The vision of the innovation space is for both students and staff to work in a technology-rich collaborative environment, designed to foster both independent and group exploration.

Objectives of the MSR partnership include:

·         Creating a culture that promotes a safe and caring school environment

·         Providing students with relevant and engaging academic opportunities

·         Engaging students through 21^st century learning opportunities

·         Allowing for a personalized approach to the redesign, in order to address school site specific challenges and goals

“We are very excited to partner with the 2021 Miami Host Committee to help transform learning environments and support teachers in Miami-Dade County through our impact strategy partnership,” said CFP Foundation Executive Director Britton Banowsky. “The learning environment goes a long way to improving teacher engagement and student achievement, and we are thrilled to be part of this amazing unprecedented work.”

MSR aims to strengthen middle school programs for all students by implementing innovative changes to meet their unique social, emotional, and academic needs, while also addressing the ever-changing demand of 21^st century teaching and learning.

“Dedicated community partners are vital to supporting our efforts to give our students the world,” said Superintendent of Schools Alberto M. Carvalho. “The accomplishments of our stellar students and teachers are in part possible thanks to the joint work we have been able to accomplish with organizations like the CFP Foundation and the 2021 Miami Host Committee. We truly appreciate their commitment to education.”

The Host Committee is grateful for the generous contributions of its community sponsors that have helped to underwrite the costs of the program, including City Furniture, Florida Blue, Florida Power & Light Company, GA Telesis, MOSS Construction, Related Group and TBC Corporation.

“A central part of our successful bid to host the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship was the special opportunity to join the CFP Foundation in launching an impactful Extra Yard for Teachers program in our community,” said Judge Michael B. Chavies, Chair, 2021 Miami Host Committee. “We are proud to support the incredible work of Superintendent Carvalho and his team in transforming the middle school experience for children in Miami-Dade County.”

The partnership impact strategy announcement was made as part of the BIG DAY -- a national day of supporting and celebrating teachers led by the CFP Foundation and its partners. This is the largest single-day effort of community impact ever undertaken by the extended college football family. It comes as school districts, administrators and teachers perform their important duties during the unprecedented backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. As community conditions have required schools across the country to close, educators have found innovative ways to keep kids learning. More than 150 partners across the country are expected to participate, including universities, conferences, bowl games, high schools, and corporate and educational organizations. The CFP Foundation’s BIG DAY is providing more than $4 million in grants, gift cards and desperately needed resources to teachers across the nation. In addition to the Host Committee’s $2 million partnership, the Orange Bowl Committee is also a participant in the BIG DAY locally.

Editor’s Note: Click HERE to view a promotional video about this initiative.  #CFPEXTRAYARD

About the College Football Playoff Foundation and Extra Yard for Teachers

The CFP Foundation is the community-engagement arm of the College Football Playoff, supporting education across the country. The CFP Foundation’s primary cause platform, Extra Yard for Teachers, is dedicated to elevating the teaching profession by inspiring and empowering teachers in four focus areas: resources, recognition, recruitment and professional development. The CFP Foundation utilizes multiple partnerships to execute its initiatives and support positive educational outcomes. To learn more, visit cfp-foundation.org and follow Extra Yard for Teachers (@CFPExtraYard) on social media.

About the 2021 Miami Host Committee

The Host Committee for the 2021 College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship (2021 Miami) is a collaborative effort of the entire community, South Florida municipalities, visitors’ bureaus, the Miami Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium and led by the Orange Bowl Committee, which previously has hosted 20 college football national championships in its 87 years of existence.  The game is expected to generate tremendous economic impact and international media exposure for the region, while the Host Committee is committed to a creating a significant legacy of giving back to South Florida. The Miami 2021 Host Committee Board is populated by a diverse group of South Florida leaders. The Host Committee has planned a series of community events leading up to the 2021 CFP National Championship Game on Jan. 11, 2021 at Hard Rock Stadium. For more information on supporting the Championship effort, log on to 2021miami.com or follow the @2021miami on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

About Miami-Dade County Public Schools

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), an A-rated district, is the nation’s fourth largest school system with nearly 400 schools and a diverse enrollment of nearly 350,000 students from over 160 countries. Our ongoing tradition of groundbreaking achievement has earned top recognition at the national and international levels. M-DCPS also reached a landmark graduation rate of 89.2 percent. For the most up-to-date information, please download the Dadeschools mobile app to your iPhone or Android device.  Follow us on Twitter @mdcps and @miamisup, on Instagram @miamischools and @miamisup, and on Facebook at MiamiSchools and AlbertoCarvalho.