LTC 268-2008 CMB & MDC Public Schools Ed Compact IB Program UpdateI•
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OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LETTER TO C~'~M~t~SIC~l~1Ff Iclr
NO. LTC #268-2008
To: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission
From: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
Date: October 20, 2008
Subject: City of Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County Public Schools Education
Compact International Baccalaureate (IB) Program Implementation Status
Update
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (LTC) is to update the Mayor and
Commissioners on the status of the implementation of the International Baccalaureate
(IB) Program pursuant to the City of Miami Beach Education Compact agreed to on
January 16, 2008.
As part of the FY 2008/09 Work Plan and Budget, the Commission adopted two new Key
Intended Outcomes in our Strategic Plan (the outcomes we want to achieve in support of
our vision - KIOs) :Enhance Learning Opportunities for Youth and "Improve the Lives of
Elderly Residents." We have already received positive response from the community
regarding the new learning KIO (see attached email from the Quality Education
Committee). This KIO reflects the importance that the City has placed on the recently
approved Education Compact with Miami-Dade Public Schools.
One of the initiatives of the education compact is to implement the International
Baccalaureate program throughout all Miami Beach feeder schools. The latest action in
this implementation is the granting of candidate status for the IB Diploma Program (DP)
for Miami Beach Senior High School effective October 2008. Now that this school has
successfully completed the DP Application Form Part A and been granted candidate
status, the following steps must be taken:
- The Miami Beach Senior High School must put in place all the processes and
resources needed to deliver the DP, including selecting a program coordinator
and undertaking teacher training provided by or approved by IB. The school has
selected a coordinator and 12 teachers/administrators have attended authorized
training this summer. Additional staff will attend training in December;
- Prior to submission of the second application (in April 2009) which provides for
authorization, instructional staff must develop course outlines utilizing the IB on-
line curriculum center and submit supporting documents which include a course
outline for each proposed subject as part of the application.
- A consultant is providing feedback and guidance related to course development
and program implementation and the completion of second application;
- Upon receipt of the completed application second application requesting
authorization, the IB Organization (IBO) regional office will arrange an on-site
visit by an IBO delegation (anticipated for Fall 2009). The purpose of the visit is
to evaluate and prepare an internal report on the school's capacity to deliver the
program in accordance with the IBO's requirements; and,
- Authorization to teach an IB program may be granted, postponed, or denied after
the site visit for the following school year (anticipated for August 2010).
South Point Elementary, Fienberg-Fisher K-8 Center, North Beach Elementary,
Biscayne Elementary and Treasure Island Elementary submitted IB Interested Schools
Forms on October 1, 2008 for the IB Primary Years Program (PYP). Next steps for
each of these schools towards attaining IB status include:
- Training of an instructional staff member for each grade level, head of school,
coordinator, and specialist teacher prior to submission of PYP Application A (May
2009);
- Submission of PYP Application A (in May 2009) allows the IBO to determine if
the PYP is an appropriate curriculum for each school including required
resources, staffing, and facilities;
- Anticipated candidate status granted (July 2009) to allow for the one year trial
implementation for the 2009-10 school year;
- All instructional staff members will receive Level I training prior to submission of
PYP Application B;
- Anticipated submission date for Application B June 2010 to evaluate the school's
preparedness to implementation the PYP;
- Upon receipt of the completed application Form Part B, the IBO regional office
will arrange an on-site visit by an IBO delegation (Fall 2010). The purpose of the
visit is to evaluate and prepare an internal report on the school's capacity to
deliver the program in accordance with the IBO's requirements; and,
- Authorization to teach an IB program may be granted, postponed, or denied after
the site visit (Fall 2010).
The City has met with the MDCPS Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Grants,
Marketing, and Community Service and partnered on the submission of IB Application
for On-Site training. Selection as an on-site provider will be made at the end of October
2008.
Next steps include scheduling of additional training workshops for DP, MYP and PYP.
I feel that we have made excellent progress to date and anticipate healthy discussion
opportunities with City schools as we strive to meet the educational needs of our
children.
Should you have any questions, or need additional information, please feel free to
contact me.
JMG/KGB/Idr
Attachment
F:\cmgr\$ALL\LTC-08\IB Implementation Status October 2008 LTC.doc
Page 1 of 1
Rosenfeld, Leslie
From: Evelyn Lampner [elampner@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2008 12:30 AM
To: Rosenfeld, Leslie
Cc: Gonzalez, Jorge
Subject: Thank you
Respectfully to Mayor Bower, Commissioners, Mr. Jorge Gonzalez and City Staff,
On behalf of the Committee for Quality Education, I want to thank you for including a crucial and invaluable
element in the City of Miami Beach's Strategic Plan. Over the years, the City has provided the residents of Miami
Beach with top rate programs and benefits in education that are unheard of in most other communities in our
nation. Now, however, at a time when we see our economy, our nation, and our community in its greatest hour
of need, the City of Miami Beach has risen above and committed to improving education in our schools and
community. The ratification of the Compact was the first step in this process, but now an inclusion to "Enhance
Learning Opportunities for Youth" in the strategic plan signifies a bigger commitment.
Thank you all for recognizing that education is the backbone of what makes our community great. As we
educate those around us, we provide for a better future for everyone--the students themselves, their families
who benefit, employers who benefit from an educated and qualified workforce and the visitors who interact with
all of us--in essence everyone who lives, visits or does business in Miami Beach.
Now, we at the Committee for Quality Education will do our part to help achieve the goals of our Compact and
Strategic Plan. We've already begun our (school)year with great momentum. Let's all keep it going!
Sincerely,
Evelyn Lampner
Chairperson, Committee for Quality Education
Eggwhites Special Event Catering
(305)218-1207 cell
(305)892-2066 office
(305)892-2045 fax
www.eggwh itescateri ng . com
10/20/2008