SENATOR MARCO RUBIO VOICES SUPPORT FOR SUPERINTENDENT CARVALHO’S APPEALS FOR MIAMI EDISON AND MIAMI CENTRAL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

In a video statement, Senator Marco Rubio has voiced his support for appeals by Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho asking the State Board of Education to keep Miami Edison and Miami Central senior high schools open.

“Well, we all believe in educational progress, and the point of the law is to measure how schools improve,” said Senator Rubio.  “The problem with both Edison and Miami Central is that these schools started in a place off the chart.  They were so low on the chart in terms of where they were coming from.  They have made tremendous progress, and I hope the state will give them a chance to keep making that progress and not interrupt it by changing the way the schools are being governed.  I think both Edison and Miami Central deserve a chance to continue to carry out this plan that has so far shown almost miraculous improvement.”

Superintendent Carvalho voiced deep appreciation for Senator Rubio’s support, saying, “As our community comes together for the cause of keeping Miami Edison and Miami Central senior high schools open, we have seen bipartisan support for the issue.  I am heartened that the concern for the future and well-being of students in our most fragile schools transcends political party lines.”

Superintendent Carvalho will present a compelling case regarding the future of Holmes Elementary School and Miami Edison and Miami Central senior high schools at the Florida Board of Education's meeting in Tampa, on Tuesday, July 19. Based on Florida’s Differentiated Accountability Plan and Florida Statute 1008.33, these schools are now facing dire consequences as they have not exited "Intervene" status, despite steady improvement and achieving an accountability grade of “C”.

"Closing our schools is not an option," said Carvalho. "Our team will travel to Tampa to present a comprehensive argument as to why our appeals should be supported by the Florida Board of Education.  I am only in favor of the continuation of our current improvement plan with enhancements to address the areas where we saw decline." 

Despite more complex standards in the past year, along with a computer-based mathematics exam and a higher proficiency benchmark for writing, Miami Edison and Miami Central have been projected to receive a performance accountability grade of “D” in 2011.  Holmes Elementary has sustained a “C” for three consecutive years and its appeal is likely to be approved. Appeal letters for the three schools were submitted to the Department of Education on July 5, 2011.

Within its purview, the State Board of Education has the authority to recommend four options for each school: 1) close the school; 2) convert it to a charter school; 3) hire a private management company to manage the school; or 4) approve the school's appeal and enable the district to continue implementation of its current improvement process.
 
Miami Edison and Miami Central senior high schools have experienced significant progress in recent years:

·   At Miami Edison Senior High, the graduation rate is projected to increase to 72 percent for the past year, which is a 23 point increase from only two years ago.  Since 2003, reading proficiency has improved 10 points from 5 to 15 percent; mathematics proficiency has improved 28 points from 13 percent to 41 percent; and science proficiency has improved from 10 percent to 22 percent since 2006-2007.  In addition, the percentage of students participating in accelerated courses has increased by 26 percentage points in two years from 19 percent to 45 percent. In two years, the percentage of students who are considered college ready in reading has increased by 32 percentage points from 38 percent to 70 percent.

·   At Miami Central Senior, since being identified as an Intervene school in 2008, reading proficiency has improved 3 percent and mathematics proficiency has improved by 9 percent.  Since 2003, mathematics proficiency has improved 24 points from 23 percent to 47 percent.  Not only are more students participating in accelerated courses at Miami Central Senior but they are succeeding at higher rates. In 2008-09, only 11 percent of students who were enrolled in accelerated courses passed. In 2010-11, 69 percent of students in these courses are expected to pass. College readiness in reading is also projected to increase from 56 percent in 2009-10 to 77 percent in 2010-11. 

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