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LTC 193-2010 Quality Cities Miami Beach Article,,: ~V ~ ~ 1 OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER NO. LTC # 193-2010 1 20 ~fl JUI.. °° 9 ~~ 10~ 30 LET~T~~' ~~_bCQM~I:~.~ION To: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission.. From: Jorge M. Gonzale City Manager .Date: July 7, 2010 Subject: Quality Cifies Miami Beach Article -Publication of the Florida League of Cities The purpose of this Letter to Commission (LTC) is to share the article "The Miami Beach Education Compact: How One Community is Pursuing a Path Toward .World-Class Schools" and "Miami .Beach International Baccalaureate Program" by Dr. Leslie Rosenfeld published in the Florida League of Cities May/June 2010 edition of Quality Cities.. We have made excellent progress to date in the implementation of the various components of our Education Compact and continue- discussions with City schools as we strive to meet the educational needs of our children. The International Baccalaureate (IB) initiative allows teachers to create a continuum of access and excellence in education, giving students the tools they need to succeed academically at an early age. Implementation of the IB citywide allows schools the flexibility to .take advantage of the richness of their student base and the learning opportunities available within our City. Information is available on our City's website on the Education Tab. Should you' have any questions, or need additional information, please feel free to contact me. . JMG/KGB/LDR Attachment :~ ~ Inside: 2010 Annual Cone ,,. p;: ~'I~I~ ~# ~- ~.~ , • The Miami Beach Education Compact: How One Community is Pursuing a Path Toward World-Class Schools by Dr. Leslie Rosenfeld hey have been linked to improved home values, play a role in a student's long-term success, and often im- prove attendance and conduct. But above all, quality schools are essential to the fabric of a community. And in January 2008, the Miami Beach City Commission and the School Board of Miami-Dade County made a commitment to all of these goals when they approved and entered into an Education Compact that supports enhanced education in Miami Beach schools. "The City of Miami Beach Education Compact is an ex- ample of how true community collaboration can strengthen educational programming and student achievement," said Alberto Carvalho, superintendent of schools for Miami-Dade County. "Consistent communication and a strong level of commitment have been leveraged to ensure that all students are provided the support and opportunity to be successful." Although quality schools are hardly ever factored in when determining the health of the real estate market, they play a major role in home sales and even have the power to alter property values. In fact, research shows that when it's time to shop for a new home, one of the most important considerations for families is finding out whether there are quality schools nearby. This certainly holds true in Miami Beach. Residents surveyed during the city's Community Satisfaction Survey in 2005 said that good schools were an important factor in maintaining their quality of life. In fact, while 62 percent of respondents indicated that they were either very satisfied or satisfied with local schools in the city, an even greater number - 73 percent -stated that they would support the reallocation of city tax dollars to increase public-school funding to improve the quality of public schools in the city. As a result, in January 2008, the Miami Beach City Commission and the School Board of Miami-llade County approved and entered into an Education Compact that supports improving the state of public schools in the city. "The Education Compact was developed with significant community input and reflects the desire of our community to support and invest in excellence in our schools," said Miami Beach City Manager Jorge M. Gonzalez. "Who better to invest in than our students?" A Continuing Commitment A commitment to education and support for schools and children are not new values for the City of Miami Beach. There are many examples of ways the city has demonstrated its dedication and support through the years. Some examples include the city's allocation of funds for parks and recreation after-school programs that teach reading and social skills and provide snacks for students; a truancy prevention program that provides services to at-risk youth; the city's support of school patrol liaisons; the city's promise that every student in the feeder pattern will receive an agenda book for the school year to assist in organizing and coordinating goals; and the creation of programs that provide free access to city facilities, including apar-3 golf course and cultural facilities, tickets to performances at the Fillmore Miami Beach, and access to grant funds and computer discounts, for teachers, students and their parents. With their commitment to enriching education, Miami Beach educators, parents and city officials continue work- ing together to make a positive change in the lives of young people. Developing the Roadmap to Success The story of the Education Compact of 2008 began in 2006, when the City Commission directed the city adminis- tration to develop the compact as a collaborative agreement between the public school system and the city, with measur- able goals for academic achievement. Over the next two years, the community studied the challenges and educational needs of its schools and students, and explored opportunities for lifelong learning. The challenge: Public schools in Miami Beach were losing students and achievement ratings, while there was an increase in school tax collections. "Our hope was that by joining with Miami-Dade schools, together we could better align resources to ensure that chil- dren are armed with the tools they need to succeed in school and beyond," said Gonzalez, the Miami Beach city manager. What Is the Education Compact? The areas of focus in the compact include enhanced student achievement, teacher recruitment and retention, enhanced communication of educational and community events, and family involvement and support. The compact also seeks to engage youth and community, increase the health and wellbe- ing of students, increase safety (and perceptions of safety) in the schools, and improve access to technology. Enhanced student achievement includes the ambitious implementation of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at every school within the city. The IB program implementation began in August 2008 with Miami Beach Senior High School, Nautilus Middle School and Fienberg- Fisher K-8 Center's sixth through eighth grades, with 22 Florida League of Cities implementation at all four of the city's elementary schools beginning in August 2009. The city's cost commitment for the implementation of the IB program is $500,000. To date, all elementary and middle schools are IB candidate schools, and Miami Beach Senior High School has been authorized to provide the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. (See sidebar below.) The city also has partnered with the Miami Beach Cham- ber of Commerce to develop a speakers bureau for schools to provide teachers with access to speakers on specialized topics. In addition, a city internship program offers students an opportunity to experience municipal government first- hand and provides aclose-up look at careers in municipal government. The program and other events held during the internship term provide students with the opportunity to learn about various careers and post-secondary options upon their graduation from high school. The city's Organizational Development Division of the Office of Budget and Performance Improvement, the Committee for Quality Education and the school district's Intergovern-nental Affairs Office have been tasked with Miami Beach International Baccalaureate Program by Dr. Leslie Rosenfeld The Education Compact agreement between the City of Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County Public Schools has resulted in all public schools in the city recently receiving International Baccalaureate (IB) candidate schools status. Tailored for all school grades. kindergarten through 12th grade, IB is internationally recognized and has been the benchmark of educational excellence, with a reputation far high-quality education for more than 35 years. "This is an exciting time for Miami Beach, as this program will continue our commitment to ensuring that our residents have access to quality education within a few short steps from their home, "said Miami Beach Mayor Matti Herrera Bower, a strong advocate for education. "This would not have been possible if not for the historic education compact between the city and our school system:' Not only are the city and schools moving forward with the IB process, but they are also working together toward becoming IB World Schools. In ad- dition, the Miami Beach Senior High School is now authorized to provide the IB Diploma Program, accessible to all students in Miami Beach. Where We Go From Here Thanks to the IB programs, with implementation funded by the City of Miami Beach as part of the com- pact, all Miami Beach students have access to this opportunity to excel. The next step in the implementa- tion of the IB initiative involves the schools' merging of these programs. Implementation of the IB citywide allows schools the flexibility to take advantage of the richness of their student base and the learning op- portunities available within the city from the moment students enter their formal educational experience to the time they graduate from high school. By 2011, all Miami Beach public schools will offer the IB continuum of education. Any school may become an IB World School if it meets the International Baccalaureate Organi- zation (IBO) intense and extensive requirements. The IB model fosters a positive attitude to learning by sup- porting students to ask challenging questions, reflect critically, develop research skills and participate in community service. The IB programs combine the best research and practice from a range of national systems with a wealth of knowledge and experience from .international schools to create a relevant and engaging educational framework for children at all levels. It fosters the skills necessary to be- come lifelong learners. Staff members at Miami Beach public schools have stated that it rejuvenates the current curriculum and raises the bar for all students. "Partnering Primary Years Program, Middle Years Program and Diploma Program schools create continuity for students while fostering a culture of collaboration for teachers," said Dr. Rosann Sidener, principal, Miami Beach Senior High School. To find out more, visit the City of Miami Beach Web site at www. miamibeachH.gov and click on the "Education" tab. overseeing and carrying out the specific activities and mea- sures that meet the outcomes of the Education Compact. "The compact, which informed, involved and motivated the Miami Beach community, demonstrates that an excellent education can be achieved through community cooperation, knowledgeable communication and support," said Beverly Heller, chairwoman of the City of Miami Beach Commit- tee for Quality Education. "By offering a free, world-class education to all children on Miami Beach through the public-school International Baccalaureate program, the quality of life of the residents of Miami Beach has been greatly enhanced." For more information on Miami Beach's new Educa- tion Compact, visit www.miamibeachfl.gov and click on the "Education" tab, or contact the City of Miami Beach Organizational Development Division by calling (305) 673- 7000, ext. 6923, or sending an a-mail to leslierosenfeld@ miamibeachfl.gov. Leslie Rosenfeld is organizational development coordinator for the City of Miami Beach. Quality Cities -May/June 2010 23