MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS MAKES
PREPARATIONS TO ASSIST NEW ARRIVALS FROM HAITI

MIAMI - Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) has begun preparations to welcome and provide educational services to students who may be relocated to South Florida as a result of a devastating earthquake that struck the island nation of Haiti on January 12, 2010.

“The District is fully prepared to provide personnel and resources to address the educational needs of students who may be displaced from their home country following this horrible disaster,” said Alberto M. Carvalho, Superintendent of Schools.

M-DCPS has developed an effective response mechanism to previous emergencies, including the Mariel Boatlift and Hurricane Andrew, which required implementing educational services beyond normal operations.  These emergency plans are being fine-tuned to address the current needs of the children impacted by the earthquake in Haiti.

Models of service delivery have been designed to address various scenarios that may occur as a result of the earthquake, including providing services to students at a local intake center or an intake center that may be established outside of the school district.  District administrators have also planned for the possibility of students arriving individually at area schools over an extended period of time.

The cost to provide services to a large number of new students has also been considered, and effective implementation of the district’s plan will be contingent upon financial support from the federal government.  An on-going collaboration with all governmental agencies that may be involved in emergency deployment will be established.

“Recognizing the severe trauma that these children may have faced, the school district is committed to meeting their needs and helping them build a future,” said Carvalho.

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10/JS/097/TR

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