Resolution 2021-31778 RESOLUTION NO. 2021-31778
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING FUNDING FOR THE GENERAL
EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT ("GED") AND ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF
OTHER LANGUAGES ("ESOL") CLASSES FOR MIAMI BEACH RESIDENTS
ENROLLED AT MIAMI BEACH ADULT AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION
CENTER FOR THE 2021 SCHOOL YEAR,AND EACH SUBSEQUENT SCHOOL
YEAR, SUBJECT TO FUNDING APPROVAL DURING THE CITY'S
BUDGETARY PROCESS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $11,700 PER
SCHOOL YEAR; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS OR AGREEMENTS IN CONNECTION
WITH THE PROGRAM.
WHEREAS, the Miami Beach Adult and Community Education Center, through Miami-
Dade County Public Schools, offers English for Speakers of Other Languages ("ESOL") classes
as well as General Education Development ("GED") classes to Miami Beach residents; and
WHEREAS, the ESOL course is designed to provide English language and literacy
instruction for English language learner adults whose first language is other than English and who
are non-literate or semi-literate in their home language, in order to increase their ability to
communicate in English; and
WHEREAS, The GED course of instruction prepares students for academic and personal
success through obtaining the necessary skills required to pass the official GED test and earn a
State of Florida High School Diploma; and
WHEREAS, the current fee to enroll in either a GED or ESOL course at Miami Beach
Adult and Community Education Center through Miami-Dade County Public Schools is $30; and
WHEREAS, in the Fall 2019 semester, 390 Miami Beach residents were enrolled into
ESOL and GED; and
WHEREAS, in summer 2019, the enrollment for the GED and ESOL classes was equally
robust with 223 Miami Beach residents availing themselves of these educational opportunities;
and
WHEREAS, however, following the COVID-19 pandemic and its adverse impact to Miami
Beach's vulnerable residents, the enrollment in Summer 2020 dropped 69% when compared to
the enrollment during Summer 2019 term; and
WHEREAS, the hospitality industry in Miami Beach suffered one of the worst adverse
impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, in order to ensure that our workforce remains on Miami Beach, as they are
the backbone of our hospitality industry, removing obstacles to their ability to attain and improve
basic skills like English proficiency and high school graduation equivalency, is critical; and
WHEREAS, on July 29, 2020, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No.
2020-31324, accepting the recommendation of the City Administration to fund the enrollment fee
for up to 390 Miami Beach residents to take ESOL and GED classes for Fall 2020 at a cost not to
exceed $11,700; and
WHEREAS, on November 18, 2020, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution
No. 2020-31482, accepting the recommendation of the City Administration to extend the term of
the initial Agreement to March 22, 2021; and
WHEREAS, Fall and Winter 2020 Miami Beach resident enrollment resulted in 77 enrolled
with approximately $9,390 of funds remaining, which funds City Administration will be allocating
to the Fall 2021 semester for eligible Miami Beach residents; and
WHEREAS, it is anticipated that with continued funding and with the expected return of
in-person classes, more Miami Beach residents will take advantage of this scholarship
opportunity.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby authorize funding for the General Education Development ("GED") and
English for Speakers of Other Languages ("ESOL") classes for Miami Beach residents enrolled
at Miami Beach Adult and Community Education Center for the 2021 school year, and each
subsequent school year, subject to funding approval during the City's budgetary process, in an
amount not to exceed $11,700 per school year; and further authorize the City Manager to execute
any and all documents or agreements in connection with the program.
PASSED and ADOPTED this Z6 day of July, 2021.
ATTEST:
Dan Gelber, Mayor
�/LJL;
Raf el E. Granado, City Clerk _-� ;i g
Ag
.. .y,
ra
(sponsored by Commissioner Michael Gongora) % IttCORP;IORATED:
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
-7-12-11
City Attorney Date
Ci
Resolutions-C7 R
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Alina T. Hudak, City Manager
DATE: July 28, 2021
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING FUNDING FOR THE
GENERAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT ("GED") AND ENGLISH FOR
SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES ("ESOL") CLASSES FOR MIAMI
BEACH RESIDENTS ENROLLED AT MIAMI BEACH ADULT AND
COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTER FOR THE 2021 SCHOOL YEAR, AND
EACH SUBSEQUENT SCHOOL YEAR, SUBJECT TO FUNDING APPROVAL
DURING THE CITY'S BUDGETARY PROCESS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED $11,700 PER SCHOOL YEAR; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS OR
AGREEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROGRAM.
RECOMMENDATION
The administration is seeking approval to utilize remaining scholarship GED/ESOL funds for
Fall 2021 and continue funding of the Miami Beach Adult and Community Education
Scholarship Program for City residents enrolling in GED and ESOL classes at the Miami Beach
Adult and Community Education Center for the 2021-22 school year (Fall, Winter, and Spring
semesters)and each subsequent fiscal year.
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
In July 2020 the Commission approved Resolution 2020-31324 authorizing funding of up to
$11,700 for the General Education Development (GED) and English for Speakers of Other
Languages (ESOL) classes for Miami Beach residents enrolled in Fall 2020 at Miami Beach
Adult and Community Education Center, appropriated from the City's General Fund for Fiscal
Year 2020. On October 15, 2020, the City signed an agreement with the School Board to
provide these services.
On February 22, 2021,the City amended its original agreement with the School Board to extend
the term to March 22, 2021.
The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course is designed to provide
English language and literacy instruction for English language learner adults whose first
language is other than English and who are non-literate or semi-literate in their home language,
in order to increase their ability to communicate in English. The instructional focus is to prepare
adult learners to use English for entering the career and technical and/or postsecondary
education, employment, and participation in civic life.
Page 506 of 2012
The GED course of instruction prepares students for academic and personal success
through obtaining the necessary skills required to pass the official GED test and earn a State of
Florida High School Diploma. This program strives to motivate students not only to obtain the
diploma but also to utilize the acquired skills in the workforce and to achieve career and job
placement success.
ANALYSIS
During Fall 2020 and Winter 2020 the ESOL and GED scholarship provided 77 Miami Beach
adult residents a scholarship in a total cost to the City of$2,310, or$30 per participant.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic and its adverse impact on Miami Beach's vulnerable
residents, enrollment in GED and ESOL classes continues to be low, due to financial
constraints of Miami Beach families. The hospitality industry continues to suffer impacts of the
COVI D-19 pandemic; in order to ensure that our workforce remains on Miami Beach, as they
are the backbone of our hospitality industry, removing obstacles to their ability to attain and
improve basic skills like English proficiency and high school graduation equivalency, is critical. It
is anticipated that with continued funding and with the expected return of in-person classes,
more Miami Beach residents will take advantage of this scholarship opportunity.
SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA
49.1% of residents were either very satisfied or satisfied with the quality of public schools in
Miami Beach
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
$11,000 included in the FY2022 Enhancement Request list
$9,390 remaining of$11,700 budgeted for FY2021
Applicable Area
Citywide
Is this a"Residents Right Does this item utilize G.O.
to Know" item. pursuant to Bond Funds?
City Code Section 2-14?
No No
Strategic Connection
Prosperity-Be known for(K-12)educational excellence.
Legislative Tracking
Organizational Development Performance Initiatives
Sponsor
Commissioner Michael Gongora
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
o Resolution
Page 507 of 2012