FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 22, 2013

CONTACT: John Schuster
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
305-995-1126

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ENTERS INTO A THREE-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS FOR AN EXPANSION OF CAMBRIDGE PROGRAMS

On May 22, 2013, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho will share the stage at G. Holmes Braddock Senior High School with Cambridge International Examinations, Chief Executive, Michael O’Sullivan, to announce a three-year expansion of Cambridge Programs. 

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) is breaking new ground in international collaboration by entering into an agreement with Cambridge International Examinations, part of the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.  M-DCPS will become the first major school district in the United States to build such a relationship. 

Over the next three years, M-DCPS will roll out 80 Cambridge Programs in 70 schools, including the Cambridge Primary Program in elementary schools, the Cambridge Secondary 1 Program in middle schools, and the Cambridge International General Certification of Secondary Education (Cambridge IGCSE) and the Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (Cambridge AICE) Diploma Programs in senior high schools. These new Cambridge Program schools will complement the 20 existing Cambridge programs currently in 16 M-DCPS schools.

Michael O’Sullivan, Chief Executive, Cambridge International Examinations said, “We know that schools in the US and around the world want to provide their students with the best preparation for the next stage of their education, university and beyond. I’m therefore delighted that we have established this agreement with the Miami-Dade which I’m confident will benefit students and teachers in schools across the district.”

This new relationship will continue to highlight this District as a national leader in K – 12 international programs.  At the high school level, Cambridge AICE Diploma Program students at Ronald Reagan/Doral, Miami Lakes Tech, and Braddock have already earned distinction for achieving at the highest level in the United States on Cambridge AICE examinations. Ronald Reagan/Doral Cambridge AICE Diploma candidate, Ricardo Gomez achieved a Top in World Outstanding Learner award in Cambridge International AS Level Spanish Language. The expansion will allow more students throughout the District to reach this level of international distinction.

As part of this agreement, Miami-Dade County Public Schools will offer face-to-face professional development for teachers at the elementary, middle, and high school levels over the next three years in addition to online teacher training and curriculum support.
With the expansion of Cambridge Programs, Miami-Dade County Public Schools will offer a rigorous academic continuum that emphasizes analysis, problem solving, and communication skills.  Students who earn the Cambridge AICE Diploma can be awarded college credit or advanced standing at the university level, in addition to the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship.

About Choice School Programs in Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Choice school programs offer unique courses of study focusing on students’ special interests, talents, and abilities and are available across the District. Since opening its first magnet program in 1973, magnet and choice options have greatly expanded within Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Currently, over 52,000 students are enrolled in over 375 magnet and choice programs offered at more than 120 schools district-wide. For more information, go to: www.yourchoicemiami.org     

About Cambridge International Examinations
Cambridge International Examinations is the world’s largest provider of international education programmes and qualifications for 5 to 19 year olds. We are a not for profit organisation and part of the University of Cambridge, one of the world’s top universities and trusted for excellence in education. Our qualifications are recognised by the world’s universities and employers.  

We already work with 270 schools in the US who offer Cambridge Programs including Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS and A Level and the Cambridge AICE Diploma Program. Students taking Cambridge AICE courses are expected to take Cambridge International AS and A Levels examinations, which form the structure of the Diploma.
For more information visit www.cie.org.uk

 

# # #

013-JJS/117

Back to News Releases