Over the past two years, the COVID-19 global pandemic has deeply impacted our society in ways we could have never imagined. As we emerge from the greatest health crisis of our time, we find ourselves, across our nation and in our community, also facing an education crisis of historic proportions. The data is compelling. The pandemic has impacted academic achievement, causing significant regression among students across all grade levels, double digits in fact.

Preexisting opportunity and achievement gaps have widened. Young learners who were historically fragile and struggling prior to the pandemic have been hit the hardest. The deepening disparities, many of which are generations in the making, have been exacerbated. Worsening an already worrisome situation is the recent increase in hoax threats, which cause further distractions that disrupt the educational environment in our schools, leading to heightened stress levels, anxiety, and absenteeism among students. There is no time to waste. Directing time and energy towards our schools, intensifying the hard work required to rebuild them and, in turn, make our community better and stronger. Every minute that we waste or distraction we allow will be another building block missed that will impact young people for their entire lifetime.

When I became Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) in 2008, the country was dealing with an economic recession, the State was threatening to close nine underperforming schools, there were dozens of schools with a D or F rating, and our graduation rate stood at 58 percent. Back then, we knew drastic measures had to be taken, both financially and academically, to overcome the economic turmoil and turn our schools around. And we did just that. Fast forward to 2020, M-DCPS achieved an A-rating, with no F-rated schools for three years in a row, and a graduation rate of 93 percent for traditional high schools. Our school system knows what it takes to propel our students, but we also know we cannot do it all alone. We need our community to continue to step up and show up, especially during these critical times.

There is no doubt that education is the foundation for success, and our community cannot prosper and thrive without ensuring that all students are afforded equal opportunity to reach their full potential. The time is now to find innovative ways to accelerate learning for our students and provide them, their families, and our employees with much-needed social and emotional support. Through collaboration and partnerships, we must rally together and wrap our arms around these students and each other. As educators, parents, and community leaders, we all play a part in addressing these learning challenges, and we CANNOT wait. There is nothing more important than the future of our children.

We must reenergize, retool, and reengage our students. This requires parents to remain active participants in their children’s education by making sure they show up to school every day and monitoring their progress. Currently, all M-DCPS schools offer afterschool enrichment programs, and more than 130 schools will be open during the holiday recess to offer a Winter Academy, which includes three hours of learning each day. And students can always access digital resources on the M-DCPS Portal, including iReady, Reflex Math, MyOn, and Gizmos. Schools have reached out to the parents of children who would benefit from additional academic support to provide them with information about available programs.

This undertaking will also require people of good will – tutors, volunteers, mentors, faith-based partners, and supporters of public education – to help our children reach their full potential. I will never stop believing in or caring about the students of Miami-Dade County. Regardless of my connection to this school system, this need is imminent. I urge you to join our School Board and the entire M-DCPS team as we place a laser focus on student achievement and attendance. Our community’s future depends on all of us. We have shown our resilience during the pandemic, and we must now apply that same resilience to this educational undertaking. To learn more about how you can support our efforts, contact your child’s school or email us at dcpscommunity@dadeschools.net. Working together, our District will emerge stronger than ever.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) began accepting Magnet program applications for the 2022-2023 school year on Friday, October 1, 2021. Applications will be accepted through January 15, 2022.

More than 370 Magnet programs for all grade levels will offer specialized courses with unique thematic strands of study that focus on students’ special interests, talents and abilities.

Through M-DCPS’ Magnet programs, students prepare to thrive and excel in post-secondary education and in the workplace. Some of the available programs include Space and Oceanic Exploration, Cybersecurity, Investing (using Bloomberg stock exchange terminals), Artificial Intelligence through Robotics, Gaming Design and Animation, Medicine, Nursing, Visual & Performing Arts, and International Studies just to name a few!

The Magnet application system can be accessed at miamimagnets.org and will be available in multiple languages. Follow Magnets on Twitter @miamimagnets for magnet-related updates. For additional information, please call 305-995-1922 to speak with the Magnet staff.