Florida Career Academies Concept
Dade County is using a $10 million federal grant to restructure schools.
Bill and Melinda Gates are doing it in New York City and other places, why shouldn't Dade County give it a try?
No longer will students be little fish in a big pond. If Superintendent Rudy Crew's vision comes true, every student will be a big fish in a little pond.
Tania de Luzuriaga of The Miami Herald states that the five-year, $10 million grant will pay for professional development for teachers to develop smaller learning communities. All middle and high schools in the district will be set up as smaller career-themed academies like the Gates project in New York City. It will become more difficult for students to fall into the proverbial cracks.
New York City has developed smaller schools within larger schools and students are excited about the concept. Dade County will develop acadamies in
- business
- health
- creative arts
- science
- engineering
de Luzuriaga states that Miami-Dade is also organizing its academies along potential career paths, many of them vocational. This will add relevance to the course work which is now lacking. If students do not see the purpose of what they are studying, they have little motivation. Drop outs state that school is not relevant and boring. Are they right?
Magnet schools are presently using this format and have been very successful with students. Dade County wants this successful program available to all students.
Previous Florida issues have been vouchers and overzealous discipline.
Read previous articles on Educational Issues.
Copyright article 2007 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
