Miami-Dade County Public Schools - March 6 – 8, 2013
Registration for this visit is now closed.
IN THE NEWS:
2012 Broad Prize Awarded to Miami-Dade County Public Schools; Florida District Wins $550,000 in College Scholarships for Students, Three Finalist Districts Each Win $150,000
Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) embraces technology as a means to level the playing field for all its students. As the fourth largest school district in the United States, M-DCPS is a large urban school system encompassing over 2000 square miles, 450 schools, 19,542 teachers, and over 349,945 students speaking well over 100 different foreign languages. The district embraces the diversity of its students and staff, and believes that technology plays a role in achieving educational transformation for a school district and educational quality for its students.
Led by Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho, the district has maintained a keen focus on student achievement and used technology and innovative strategies as the tools for the district’s current and ongoing evolution. Named as one of the nation’s top 10 Tech-Savviest Superintendents in 2011, Mr. Carvalho believes strongly that technology as a means without an end is not effective. He recognizes the relevance of technology in today’s digital, information-laden world, and its ability to provide equitable access to high quality, digital content to students. The district’s Links to Learning initiative provides students and parents with access to district-licensed, online content. Students are able to log into the district’s student portal and access individualized learning paths, customized to their specific learning needs providing remediation, practice, and enrichment.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools is in the midst of a reinvention of its classroom instruction and strategic use of technology. The district has crafted a strategic framework with one singular goal – Student Achievement. M-DCPS has enjoyed significantly improved student test scores, and the growth exhibited by its students on the FCAT Reading, Mathematics, and Writing Tests exceeded that of the State at nearly every grade level. M-DCPS students have consistently scored at the national level, garnering the district high marks on the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP). Black and Hispanic students continue to pass the college-level Advanced Placement exams in record numbers.
In M-DCPS, over 8,000 high school students are taking classes in a virtual environment. This implementation is the largest of its kind of any school district in the country. M-DCPS spends approximately $8.4 million a year on software that targets student’s academic achievement. The district’s investment in technology tools, district-licensed remediation and enrichment software programs, improved wireless access for schools, instructional pod casts, and one to one laptop programs has transformed M-DCPS into one of the best urban school districts in the country. M-DCPS has been nominated 5 times as finalist for the prestigious Broad Prize for Urban Education.
In Miami-Dade County Public Schools, learning is not defined by school walls, class schedules, or the ability of students. Technology is the tool that has helped build and refine the district’s vision and it serves as the bridge to the district’s community of learners. M-DCPS will bring Wi Fi to every school via corporate and private funding and through e-Rate Funding. The District, alongside its business community and individual supporters, submitted applications that will provide for the $60 million cost associated with providing expanded wireless coverage. As a result of all the district’s efforts, students graduating from M-DCPS will be technology proficient individuals, giving them an edge in college and in their future careers.
We are looking forward to your visit to Miami. Enjoy the sun and experience educational innovation in action!