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In honor of Biliteracy Month, we would like to highlight our award-winning Magnet programs and teachers at Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) that empower our students with the skills and knowledge enabling them to become fluent and proficient in German, Italian, Spanish and French. Students can start as early as kindergarten or as late as high school.
More than just gaining another language, these International Programs are preparing students for possible careers in diplomacy, international relations, and a variety of careers now open to them and made possible by the dual language education gained in these programs.
The International Studies (IS) Program, offered at four district schools, works with Ministries of Education of Spain, Germany, France and Italy. Students are immersed in these languages for at least 12-hours a week as they learn core subjects in the second language. The IS program is an accelerated language mastery program that can lead to a dual diploma from the partnering country upon graduation.
“Students in the International Programs have access to the most prestigious universities, not only in the United States, but all over the world. Only half of the adults in the world are bilingual,” said Dr. Alina M. Diaz-Blanco, principal of the International Studies Preparatory Academy (ISPA). “In today’s global society, bilingual and biliterate adults have more opportunities and earn higher salaries than monolingual adults. The students at ISPA will move forward ready to meet the most challenging demands of post-secondary education taking with them the power of two or more languages.”
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme, offered at 13 M-DCPS schools, is governed by the International Baccalaureate Organization in Geneva. This organization provides an international curriculum from grades K-12, which links humanities, sciences, mathematics and languages, and aims to develop well-rounded, creative and compassionate citizens of a global community.
These programs are designed to allow students to become world citizens and as they become bilingual and bicultural, thereby preparing them for the global workforce. They are an excellent way for students who want to expand their knowledge and understanding of different cultures and languages.
“The International Baccalaureate Programme provides students with the opportunity to become multilingual, while developing an appreciation for diversity,” said Kelli Wise, Coral Reef Senior High’s International Baccalaureate coordinator. “Multilingualism creates a culturally diverse student who is prepared to be successful and competitive in a global society.”
Families interested in learning more about these programs can visit miamimagnets.org. Families are encouraged to contact the schools to inquire about eligibility criteria and apply to their chosen program. Applications will be accepted online at offcycle.miamimagnet.com or in person at the respective school site.
Magda Pereira is Administrative Director, School Choice and Parental Options, Miami-Dade County Public Schools/
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