Eleven senior high schools will be first to benefit from Secondary Reform plan

ELEVEN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS WILL BE FIRST
TO BENEFIT FROM SECONDARY REFORM PLAN

MIAMI – Eleven Miami-Dade County senior high schools will be the first to
undergo dynamic student-oriented transformations through a secondary school reform plan that eventually will touch all of the county's middle and high schools.

At its May 10th meeting, the School Board approved the list of schools to lead the reform, whose goal is to ensure that every graduate leaves high school fully prepared for college or a good career. The list of schools includes an alterative school, nine regular high schools and the District’s newest high school, Ronald Reagan/Doral Senior High.

At the heart of the changes is an eight-class flexible schedule that will allow every student the opportunity to participate in an internship or a dual enrollment in college before graduating. The new schedule also will permit common planning for core teachers on teams or in career academies, allowing them to tailor instruction to the specific students they teach. The new schedule also will increase the number of electives available to students.

After viewing presentations by United Teachers of Dade and District personnel, at least two-thirds of the staff at the 11 school sites voted to take part in the reform's first year.

The 11 schools are:

Booker T. Washington Sr. High
Miami Jackson Sr. High
Hialeah-Miami Lakes Sr. High
Miami Senior High
John A. Ferguson Sr. High
Miami Southridge Sr. High
Miami Beach Sr. High
North Miami Beach Sr. High
Miami Douglas MacArthur South Sr. High
Ronald Reagan/Doral Sr. High
Miami Edison Sr. High

In March 2005, the School Board approved the framework for secondary reform that stressed a personalized instructional environment based on real world situations; increased hands-on experience; internships with local businesses and colleges; and intense training and study based on international and career standards.

The reform is being implemented in phases. Phase I began in 2004-2005 and
Phase II was the report for school year 2005-2006. Phase III is the implementation plan for 2006-2011.

The Secondary School Reform plan is based on six core principles, including
accountable leadership, empowered educators, personalized learning
environments, academic engagement of all students, engaged community and youth and an integrated system of high standards, curriculum, instruction, assessments and supports.

Recent studies indicate that technological advances and global business have created a diverse and competitive workforce. Traditional high school curriculum and programs have not prepared students for the workplace, thus calling for an intense restructuring of secondary schools. Secondary school reform prepares students for the demands of a international market making them competitive with other countries.