Jose De Diego Middle School Principal Dr. Jerry Clay, Jr., MDCPS Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho, Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and Jose de Diego Middle School Band students kick off the second class of ELEVATE MIAMI at a rally with 200 sixth grade students.  Photo: Jorge R. Perez/City of Miami.

MIAMI, FL. — City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho kicked off the second class of ELEVATE MIAMI during a rally with 200 sixth grade students on Wednesday, November 19, 2008, at Jose De Diego Middle School.  Joining Mayor Diaz and the Superintendent were two former ELEVATE MIAMI students who completed the coursework and will give testimonials about how they benefited from the program.

“Elevate Miami give our students the ability to develop the skills necessary to compete globally. We need to ensure that we continue investing in our children and that we provide them with all of the tools they need to succeed,” said Mayor Manny Diaz.

The partnership between MDCPS and the City of Miami through the Education Compact has resulted in the creation of the ELEVATE MIAMI life skills course that is being taught to sixth grade students that attend schools within the city. Students who complete the required coursework and also meet important academic and behavioral benchmarks during the school year earn a free computer and internet access for their homes. 

“Elevate Miami is a program that provides students with a significant reward—a computer to take home,” said Superintendent of Schools Alberto M. Carvalho. “These students will be able to gain this reward through their individual efforts and recognize that there is more to school than the just the three ‘r’s (reading, writing and arithmetic).”

In 2007, 600 sixth grade students successfully completed the very first ELEVATE MIAMI curriculum and took home a free computer. This year’s goal will be to double the amount of students to 1200. 

Students participating in the ELEVATE MIAMI – Rites of Passage Initiative will need to meet certain criteria to earn a computer.  Among the requirements students need to meet are: attending a Title I school or attend a City of Miami magnet school with a Title I City of Miami home school; complete the Rites of Passage Curriculum including the submission of a Rites of Passage Portfolio; attend school consistently; maintain academic grades of C or above in all academic subject areas on the second quarter report card. Additionally, parents/guardians will have to complete four (4) Parent Academy Rites of Passage Workshops.  

For more information about ELEVATE MIAMI, please contact Vivianne Bohorques, City of Miami at 305-250-5300 and Lisa Martinez, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, 305-995-1426.