 |
|
Central EXPRESS Central EXPRESS Is a collaborative partnership for systemic educational reform targeted for 14,000 students, more than 700 teachers, and other professionals, and 11 schools in the Miami Central Senior High School feeder pattern in Miami, Florida. Central EXPRESS provides services, resources and activities at multiple points in the pre-K through post-secondary continuum. The effort is assets-based and designed to build capacity within the student, professional and parent community, using a comprehensive, holistic approach. Project activities support standards-based performance for students. The main goals of the initiative are to improve student performance in reading, math, science, writing, social studies and technology infusion. Who is involved? An extended urban partnership comprised of more than 30 education, business, charitable, government and community agencies. Urban partners include four major colleges/universities, five major national foundations, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, United Teachers of Dade, 10 community-based organizations, 11 schools, and a leadership team of 150 educators. Who funds the initiative? The initiative was launched in 1998 with
a major grant from The
Ford Foundation, followed by AmeriCorps funding for tutors
from the Florida Commission on Community Service. Additional
funding for specific components was provided by the AT&T
Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation,
The Peacock Foundation, Dade Community Foundation,
and North Shore Medical Foundation. Major additional grant
funding was awarded in 1999 by the South
Florida Annenberg Challenge, Washington Mutual Bank, and the U.S. Department of
Education. More than $2 million in donor support has
been secured. Grants support coordinated delivery and specific
project activities in Central EXPRESS' three pathways to student
achievement: direct student services, professional development
of teachers/ administrators, and parent community involvement.
Each collaborator in the Central EXPRESS urban partnership contributes
in-kind support. Central EXPRESS is governed collaboratively by stakeholders who are embodied and represented by the Central EXPRESS Steering Committee. Three proposal partners (Greater Miami Urban Education Pact at Florida International University, Dade Public Education Fund, and the University of Miami) play major roles in seeking funding and developing additional services for Central EXPRESS . General coordination and staff support for the initiative is provided by the Greater Miami Urban Education Pact, a partnership program in the College of Education, Florida International University. The Pact Executive Director acts as chairperson of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee meets monthly to monitor program, policy and fiscal operations; shepherd growth and development; assess ongoing needs; and ensure progress toward objectives. Each proposal partner seeks Steering Committee input and respects the collaborative mission while acting individually as institutions to fiscally manage and implement grants. Central EXPRESS programs and policies are integrated with reform priorities of the school District and the teachers' union. History of the Miami Central Feeder Pattern Initiative Miami Central Feeder Pattern schools (eight elementary schools, two middle schools and Miami Central Senior High School) have a long history of cohesive action. In 1989, Miami Central was one of six feeder patterns in the Dade County District to pilot the concept of the feeder pattern as a unit. A principal from the feeder pattern was elected as lead principal. In the early 90's the Central Feeder Pattern worked in a partnership with the College of Education at FIU on a Global Awareness project that resulted in a K-12 curriculum in global awareness and an annual Global Extravaganza that showcased accomplishments from each school. In the mid-90's cohesive professional development initiatives such as Project RAISE and Sunrays promoted school-to school exchange of best practices and high expectations for teachers and students. In 1997, when funding became available for a community of schools to pursue intensive school reform, the Central Feeder Pattern was already committed to working together as a unit. School and region leaders embraced the concept of a feeder pattern project that would focus on student achievement and address the many needs of the schools and the community. The proposal partners - The Greater Miami Urban Education Pact at FIU, the Dade Public Education Fund (renamed the Education Fund in 1999), and the University of Miami - were tapped by the Ford Foundation to submit a proposal in a national competition for feeder pattern funding. After a year of planning and assessment activities, funded by the Ford Foundation, Central EXPRESS was developed and submitted as a proposal in May, 1998, in partnership with school, region and district representatives of Miami-Dade County Public Schools and the Educational and Professional Issues Division of the United Teachers of Dade. Central EXPRESS was awarded an implementation grant in August of 1998 by the Ford Foundation through its national Collaborating for Educational Reform Initiative. At the same time, the Education Fund secured funding from the Florida Commission on Community Service, the John S. And James L. Knight Foundation and the Peacock Foundation to support deployment of 25 AmeriCorps tutors to Central EXPRESS schools. This component formed the base of a third pathway to improved performance: direct services to students. In May, 1999, the proposal partners through the University of Miami secured additional funding from The Southeast Florida Annenberg Challenge to enhance all three pathways. In August 1999, the Pact at FIU received notification of a major GEAR UP award from the U.S. Department of Education to provide direct services in tutoring, counseling, mentoring, and enrichment to sixth grade cohorts in the Central Feeder Pattern middle schools. GEAR UP EXPRESS (as our project is named) has delivered 3,000 hours of tutoring, provided funding to keep the media centers open for two additional hours after school for enrichment and homework help, recruited and trained College Coaches who mentor students, provided a part-time nurse in each school, provided social worker interns to make home visits (through the assistance of our partner, The Area Health Education Center - AHEC), developed a summer program delivered on the Miami Dade Community College Medical Center Campus and Barry University, created an Algebra by 8 Saturday Academy which met alternate Saturdays, provided professional development in math and reading for teachers, and is developing a cohesive cohort of teachers and students that is paralleled by none. Through its relationship to The Pact, the Education Fund also received funding to establish Parent Resource Centers at each of the eleven Central Feeder Pattern schools through a grant from Washington Mutual Bank. The Central Feeder Pattern initiative, begun with a commitment to connection and communication, has seen its vision mature in 1999-2000 with the aid of Community partnerships. Funding streams of over $2.5 million have been assembled to provide coordinated services in support of teachers, students and parents, complementing current District curriculum initiatives, performance goals and strategies for professional renewal. |
 |
