Latest news with #Miami-DadeSchoolBoard
Miami Herald
10-07-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Miami-Dade schools score an ‘A' rating, and that's no accident. Here's how
In a time when public education across the nation is under intense scrutiny, Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) has once again demonstrated what is possible through vision, resilience and community commitment. The third-largest school district in the United States, with over 335,000 students, has once again earned its status as an 'A'-rated district for the sixth consecutive year — an achievement that speaks volumes about the determination of our educators, students, parents and families. The continuous support of the Miami-Dade School Board has been instrumental in guiding and uplifting the district. This achievement reflects the unwavering commitment and hard work of our entire educational community — from our superintendent of schools, Jose L. Dotres, to our passionate teachers and dedicated administrators, and including our district and regional staff. It also honors the collective efforts of our entire workforce, the steadfast support of our parents and the strong partnerships we share with the broader community, including local and state leaders. This united commitment to excellence has made our continued success possible. This 'A' rating is not merely a letter on paper. It is the result of strategic planning, innovative thinking and a relentless pursuit of excellence. It represents more than test scores. It reflects growth, improvement and a determined effort to close achievement gaps. It shows a community that refuses to let circumstance define its future. It is a testament to teachers who go above and beyond, to students who overcome challenges inside and outside the classroom and to administrators who maintain high standards despite growing demands. M-DCPS serves a richly diverse student population, including a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, English language learners and students with special and unique abilities. That we continue to lead among the nation's largest districts should be a point of local pride and a national case study. From expanding school choice and dual enrollment programs to implementing mental health initiatives and career readiness pathways, to reaching one of the highest graduation rates in our history, the district remains laser-focused on student outcomes that truly matter. This outstanding achievement belongs to our students. It is a reflection of their dedication, enthusiasm to learn and limitless potential. Our students are the heartbeat of tomorrow's progress. With the knowledge, skills and values they develop today, they are prepared to lead with integrity, innovation and empathy. Whether in science, education, public service, business or the arts, they will rise to meet the challenges of their time — driving change, fostering unity and serving our nation with purpose and pride. As we celebrate this milestone, we must also ask: What's next? Continued investment in teacher recruitment and development, digital access and a future-focused curriculum must remain our priorities. The 'A' rating is not the destination. It's a mile marker on the journey toward greater educational excellence and innovation. This is a commitment to unite for the benefit of every student — because when we work as a team, we turn dreams into reality. Teamwork makes the dream work. M-DCPS has once again proven that urban public education can not only survive — it can thrive. Now let's make sure this success lifts all boats — for every student, in every classroom, and across every ZIP code. Mari Tere Rojas is the chair of the Miami-Dade County Public School Board.
Axios
07-07-2025
- Business
- Axios
Trump's K-12 federal funding hold has Miami-Dade County schools out millions
Miami-Dade County Public Schools reportedly could be out more than $45 million in the coming school year following a last-minute halt of federal funding by the Trump administration. Why it matters: The funds, which were expected to be accessible on July 1, were earmarked for programs that support English-language learners and instruction, migrant education, teacher development and after-school programs, among others. Florida school districts were already bracing for steep budget cuts for the 2025-26 school year amid declining enrollment driven by the state's growing voucher program. Catch up quick: On June 30, the administration announced it was withholding billions in federal education funding while a handful of programs were under review. The funding delay has exacerbated the uncertainty for after-school, summer and other programs, leaving schools in limbo, advocates and policy experts say. The big picture: An estimated $6.2 billion in K-12 funds across five programs remains unavailable, according to the Learning Policy Institute, which conducts research to improve education policies. By the numbers: In Florida, the administration is withholding about 15% of the state's federal funding, totaling more than $347 million, per the institute. Plus: More than $17 million in funding for migrant education, $124.5 million for instruction support, $56.5 million for English language acquisition programs, Nearly $76 million for academic enrichment programs, And nearly $73 million for after-school or summer programs. What they're saying: The possible cuts impact fragile student populations, Miami-Dade School Board member Steve Gallon told NBC6. "When you talk about ESOL, you're talking about 83,000 students," he said. "If [funding is] cut, they will be left behind." The other side: A spokesperson for the Office of Management and Budget told Axios that no decisions have been made amid "an ongoing programmatic review of education funding."
Miami Herald
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Miami school board votes to urge Trump administration to protect law-abiding immigrants
In a rare showing of bipartisan unity, the Miami-Dade School Board voted in favor of a symbolic resolution to ask the Trump administration to create new protections for immigrants who will soon lose their Temporary Protected Status, also known as TPS. Venezuelan and Haitian immigrants will lose the protection, which allows people from countries with challenging circumstances to live and work legally in the United States, this year. The item passed with 5 votes in favor and 4 dissenting votes. Danny Espino was the vote that strayed from the board's usual conservative majority, allowing the item to pass. He joined with Steve Gallon, Luisa Santos, and Joseph Geller to propose the measure and Dorothy Bendross-Mindigal cast the fifth vote. Espino represents District 5 which includes Doral, a stronghold for Venezuelan immigrants, many of whom have or have family on TPS and have expressed frustration with the canceling of the program. The resolution urges the administration to consider new safeguards for law-abiding immigrants who were previously protected by TPS. The school board proposal explains that many families in Miami-Dade County Public Schools are recipients of TPS and will be impacted by the revocation of their status. 'The elimination of TPS without alternative safeguards unfortunately may jeopardize the legal status of many law-abiding students and their families in our community,' reads the item. The item calls on federal policymakers to 'create new measures that stabilize the immigration, employment, and protection status of law-abiding individuals who fled countries due to religious and political persecution, economic upheaval and civil unrest due to political corruption, and other similar crises.' During the meeting, board member Steve Gallon called immigrants in the community 'friends,' and said, 'we support you.' School board's role in influencing federal policy During a committee meeting on Tuesday before the school board meeting, Espino encouraged his fellow board members to search their hearts and support the item. The item was co-sponsored by Steve Gallon, Luisa Santos, and Joseph Geller. Gallon's district includes parts of Little Haiti, Miami Gardens, Opa Locka, North Miami, and North Miami Beach, which includes neighborhoods with large Haitian immigrant populations. Haitian capital Port-au-Prince is teetering on the verge of lawlessness as gangs are take over many of the institutions in the city, but as recently as last week a flight of Haitian deportees arrived back in the country. Joseph Geller said he vehemently disagreed with the idea that Venezuelans are a danger to society. 'They are no danger or threat to anyone who lives in this country. They are trying to be safe and they have done that within the confines of our system,' he said. Venezuelan migrants have been targeted by the Trump administration, which recently issued an executive order invoking the Alien Enemies Act, a law dating back to 1798, in order to deport alleged members of a Venezuelan gang to a prison in El Salvador. Several relatives of those deported claim their family members were not involved in a gang and were denied due process. During the committee meeting, Luisa Santos mentioned the idea of including a statement that would offer support for students in public universities who are recipients of DACA – or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival. Recently, in-state tuition for those students was revoked in the state. Read more: 'What if I can't go?': Florida repeals in-state tuition for undocumented students Santos also mentioned her own experience as an undocumented student in Miami and how much it meant for her to feel supported by her teachers. 'It can mean everything when a leader acknowledges that you are not a criminal, that you belong in our schools'. Danny Espino said he was motivated to propose the item by residents who expressed their concern about TPS ending. Board Chair Mari Tere Rojas said, 'because of the uncertainties I can understand the anxiety and fear.' But, she said she would not support the item because she believes the school board does not have the jurisdiction to support the measure. Steve Gallon mentioned that in 2017 he introduced a similar item asking President Trump to extend TPS. It was approved unanimously. Roberto Alonso, Monica Colluci, and Rojas expressed concern that the item would distract from the school district's role, which is to educate. During Wednesday's school board meeting, Mari Tere Rojas re-stated her position, saying that although the district supports immigrants, 'the school board does not have jurisdiction over immigration policies.' During the meeting, Maurits Acosta, the student representative on the board spoke out in favor of the item. 'It's not about where you are from it is about what you give to make this country better,' he said. 'We must demand those who built their lives here have a right to stay. They came to contribute, work, and dream.'
Miami Herald
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Renaming streets diminishes Liberty City community instead of celebrating it
Be street smart To Madam Mayor and Honorable Commissioners of Miami-Dade County, I strongly oppose the proposed renaming of historic streets in a vital cultural corridor of Miami. While the intent may be to honor local music and artistry, this approach risks diminishing the very community it seeks to celebrate. Liberty City has long been a beacon of artistic expression, resilience and cultural pride. Residents, business owners and artists have worked tirelessly to foster dignity, heritage and progress. However, renaming streets after rap lyrics — some reinforcing negative stereotypes — undermines these efforts and could deter much-needed investment and growth. Miami's contribution to hip-hop and Black culture is significant, but reducing our street names to 'Act Up Street' and 'Trenches Street' sends the wrong message. Such names risk turning this district into a social media spectacle rather than a hub of progress. Perhaps Commissioner Keon Hardemon views this as a way to engage younger generations. Any changes, however, must align with the long-term vision of empowerment, not parody. Instead of renaming streets, I urge the commission to honor Miami's hip-hop legacy positively, through cultural landmarks, festivals, or arts initiatives. More importantly, let's prioritize long-overdue infrastructure improvements, small business investment and youth programs. I respectfully ask the commission to reject this resolution and ensure that any changes reflect the values of those who live, work, and create here. Let's champion progress, not undermine it. Keith Griffin, Liberty City In the spotlight What a disappointment to learn of Miami Beach Mayor Steve Meiner threatening O Cinema for showing the film 'No Other Land.' One of the first victims of war is truth. The reality of what has been happening in Israel in recent months is tragic, sad and wrong. That a Jewish journalist and a Palestinian activist together directed the documentary speaks volumes. Why not show the documentary and let people choose if it is full of lies or sadly true? If it is offensive or not so? Many Jewish residents in Miami Beach do not agree with the mayor. If the mayor disagrees with what he thinks the documentary will show, then he should not attend. Instead, let me attend. Let those of us with an open mind and who are not afraid of the truth see the documentary. These are hard times we are living. Let's be brave. Teresa Fernández, Miami Social insecurity Social Security is an entitlement? Yes, it certainly is! We, the people, are definitely entitled to 'our' money, which had been taken out of our paychecks to give us financial security when we finally retired. What don't these government people understand? Barry Levy, Miami Beach conflicts Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner voted to oppose pro-LGTBQ measures as commissioner, including naming a street after deceased San Francisco politician Harvey Milk and condemning the Miami-Dade School Board for refusing to recognize LGBTQ History Month. He opined that such matters fall outside the city commission's purview. Yet Meiner sees no problem using city letterhead and city leverage to try to make a point. The mayor is wholeheartedly correct in using his role to decry and fight against antisemitism — a huge evil in this city, state and country. That said, it is hypocritical for Meiner to claim the city has no place supporting and protecting other minorities in the city while using city hall. Censoring and attempting to evict O Cinema for showing an Academy Award-winning documentary film is outrageous. Meiner should continue to fight antisemitism and he should also stand and start fighting against homophobia, racism and sexism in our community. Jack Lord, Miami Beach Historic home Re: the March 13 online story by Andres Viglucci and Lauren Costantino, 'Hostile takeover or righteous claim? Historic Miami church at center of tangled legal dispute.' The contentious two-year dispute puts an important part of Miami's history in jeopardy: the 100-year-old home of Miami's first mayor. While the lawsuits continue, it is vital to ensure that the historic home is not lost forever in the process. Miami's first mayor, John Reilly, built his home in 1926 in the early suburb of Shenandoah. The two-story residence, constructed on a massive property, is in a vulnerable area that has rapidly been losing historic buildings due to the neighborhood's gentrification. The current owners, Saint Peter & Paul Russian Orthodox Greek Church, purchased the stately residence in 1954, paid off the mortgage in 1960 and have been faithful stewards for over 70 years. The home next door was built in 1922 from a mail order Sears kit by Mayor Reilly's daughter and her family. This home is meticulously preserved and the abutting properties offer a rare glimpse of Miami in the 1920's. The Villagers, Miami-Dade's oldest historic preservation organization, support all efforts to save and protect this historic home and support its Historic Designation. Kelley Schild, Coral Gables Holy mineral? Some people 'believe' that fluoride added to our county's drinking water is not beneficial. It's not a religion; it's science. Don Deresz, Miami Risk of war President Donald Trump is too ignorant to realize that the surrender of one yard of Ukraine to Russia is the actual first step toward World War III. The sycophant, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is smart enough to realize this but too obsequious to speak truth to power. If Russian President Vladimir Putin gains ground by war this time, he will see this conquest as a model for future invasions. When he tries to annex Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, or Belarus, his armies will be face-to-face with NATO and the USA. Charles Sanders, South Miami Missing virtues As a U.S. Army veteran during the Vietnam era, I was appalled to read about the budget cuts President Trump and his billionaire pal, Elon Musk, want to make to the Department of Defense and therefore, our military. When Trump became eligible to serve in the armed forces, he chickened out by claiming he had painful bone spurs, while his wealthy father allegedly paid a doctor to confirm the fake claim. Those 'painful' bone spurs didn't keep Trump from playing baseball in high school, nor tennis at Fordham University, yet they magically appeared when he became eligible for the military draft. Has anyone seen Trump limping around on the golf course recently? Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa, but when he came of age for compulsory military service, he fled to Canada to avoid serving his country. Meanwhile, our draft-dodger president also wants to ban transgenders from serving in the military. Roger Hammer, Homestead Unwelcome gift The Department of Homeland Security's recent requirement that all immigrants register reminds me of when Nazi Germany required all Jews to wear a yellow Star of David arm band. I wonder what the future immigrant arm band will look like? Charity Johnson, Miami Friendly AI Despite all the current fearmongering, artificial intelligence is not a threat to human beings. AI is an incredible tool when used properly. Its main value is in its predictive abilities. It can sift through massive amounts of data and discern patterns that the human brain, as predisposed to pattern-seeking as it is, cannot. But AI cannot replace human thought. It can never write a work of literature. Yes, it can emulate past authors, but it can only do so in predictive ways. Or random ways. What it cannot do is create the unexpected. That is something only a gifted author can do. And by 'unexpected,' I do not mean random. I mean the precise turn of events that creates the most surprise in the reader's mind, and also the sense that what transpired was, in fact, precisely what should have been expected. Only a human mind can do that. AI will not replace us. David Frank DeLuca Palm Bay
Miami Herald
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
‘I don't want to drop out': Youth ask Florida GOP to keep in-state tuition for undocumented
Young immigrants called on Florida Republican lawmaker to not repeal a decade-old law that has allowed thousands of undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates for higher education in state colleges and universities. At a press conference on Tuesday in front of the Miami-Dade School Board building in downtown Miami, several South Floridians directly pleaded with Gov. Ron DeSantis and Tallahassee legislators to keep the policy in place. Idalia Quinteros, a first-generation immigrant from El Salvador, said that when she started applying for college, 'it felt like every single door was slammed in my face.' She couldn't apply for financial aid, qualify for most scholarships, take out loans, or get a job without a work permit. 'The light at the end of the tunnel was the in-state tuition waiver. It made college more affordable and gave me the opportunity to pursue my dreams,' said Quinteros, who now has an associate's and a bachelor's degree. The bipartisan measure, signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott in 2014, adjusted residency requirements for higher-education purposes so that having access to in-state tuition rates was no longer tied to immigration status. Educators, activists, and community leaders fear that if the policy is repealed thousands of undocumented youth in Florida will no longer be able to afford going to college. About 13,000 undocumented seniors graduate high school in the state annually, according to the President's Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, a university leaders' group that advocates for immigrant students and conducts research on the effect of immigration policies on universities. There are also over 43,000 undocumented college students in Florida. Demands to keep the in-state tuition policy come after Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed state lawmakers in recent weeks to repeal it. Republican legislative leaders have drawn up their own immigration proposal, which DeSantis has criticized, but it includes a provision that would eliminate in-state tuition for undocumented students. Under the current law, undocumented students in Florida can get a waiver and pay Florida-resident tuition fees at public and state colleges as long as they meet certain requirements. They must have gone to high school in the state for at least three consecutive years and enrolled in college within two years of high school graduation. The 2014 legislation also benefited the children of veterans, students without reliable housing or living in abusive households, and recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the immigration program that lets some undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children to work.. READ MORE: Goaded to act by DeSantis, Florida lawmakers rebuke governor, unveil own immigration plan Florida Lieut. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, who advocated for the law a decade ago as a state representative, recently said she no longer supports the policy, saying that the U.S. looks 'very different today than it did then.' 'It's time to repeal this law. It has served its purpose and run its course. Florida will not incentivize illegal immigration through this law or any other,' she said said on her X account. READ MORE: Florida lieutenant governor backs off support of in-state tuition for undocumented students Advocates disagree. 'What has not changed is that children still need affordable education… What's sad is that they are attacking kids,' said immigration advocate Yareliz Menendez Zamora. Florida Student Power Network, American Friends Service Committee, Seeds of Resistance, and other activist organizations hosted the press conference. Gaby Pacheco, a Miami immigration advocate that leads the nation's largest college aid program for undocumented youth, said that the waiver had enabled more than 600 scholarship recipients from their programs to go to college. 'Cutting off Dreamers' opportunities to pursue and afford higher education is not only harmful to their future success, but shortsighted and harmful to Florida's overall future and potential economic growth,' said Pacheco, who came to the U.S. as a child. Valeria Maldonado, 20, a nursing student at Miami-Dade College who came to the U.S. from El Salvador as a toddler, said that her focus had always been school because of her desire to pursue a career and help her family. 'I am here to ask not only Ron DeSantis but all our representatives across the state to make a real change, and not to hinder my growth, or create more challenges for me to become a professional in the medical field,' said Maldonado. ' I do not want to drop out and nor do my peers.' Miami Herald staff writer Ana Ceballos contributed to this story.
