|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Partnership for Miami (PFM) recently announced a nearly $2 million commitment to expand The Lucy Project’s (TLP) successful early literacy program, the Literacy Hub, across Miami-Dade County.
During the next three years, the initiative will bring The Lucy Project’s evidence-based “Structured Literacy” approach to four schools, supporting 800 students from kindergarten through second grade, strengthening Miami’s education ecosystem.
Research demonstrates that students who finish third grade without reading proficiency rarely catch up. The Lucy Project’s model provides a way to change this trajectory through classroom-tested strategies.
The Literacy Hub was piloted with kindergarten students at Norwood Elementary, a Title I Miami-Dade County Public School (M-DCPS) in Miami Gardens. Reading proficiency rose from 52 percent to 91 percent in one year, and a record number of kindergarteners were accepted into the Gifted Education Program. Behind these gains were M-DCPS teachers, who partnered with The Lucy Project to strengthen evidence-based Structured Literacy practices to provide the tailored support students needed to thrive.
“In a world where literacy is the gateway to lifelong opportunity, our children deserve learning approaches that unlock their full potential,” said Raul Moas, president of Partnership for Miami. “The Lucy Project partners with teachers to deepen evidence-based Structured Literacy instruction and small group differentiation.”
“We are incredibly grateful to the Partnership for Miami for recognizing the urgency of the city’s literacy crisis and for bringing leaders together to pursue impactful solutions,” said Sandra Bermudez, founder of The Lucy Project. “This grant strengthens our data-backed approach to early reading, grounded in the science of reading, and demonstrates the change that’s possible when we work together.”
The initiative includes three years of teacher training and small-group support at Auburndale Elementary, Beacon College Prep, Florida City Elementary and Norwood Elementary, followed by school-led implementation with independent research to track and validate results.
“Miami is our home, and we believe its future depends on the strength of its schools and the success of its children,” said Robert Sanchez, Partnership for Miami board member as well as chair and CEO of Ryder System Inc. “Our commitment reflects our belief in The Lucy Project and in Miami’s potential to lead the way in improving literacy outcomes.”
Reaffirming this commitment to bold action on behalf of the 340,000 K-12 students served by public schools in Miami-Dade County, the partnership also is releasing its first major report on expanding high-quality education across the county.
“Every child in Miami deserves a high-quality school that prepares them for the future,” said Ana-Marie Codina, Partnership for Miami co-chair and CEO of Codina Partners. “Our report, Beyond the Grade: A Close Look at Miami’s K-12 System, gives an honest assessment of our strengths and challenges, and points toward forward-thinking solutions that can set our students and our city up for long-term success.”
Key findings from the report include:
High marks with challenges: Miami-Dade County Public Schools have earned an “A” rating for six years, yet only 41 percent of students are proficient in English Language Arts (ELA) in third-10th and Math third-eighth.
Achievement gaps: Miami outperformed nearly all large cities on the 2024 NAEP assessment but in eighth grade Math only 22 percent of students scored at or above proficient and in eighth grade Reading just 28 percent achieved that level.
• Success is Possible: Only 41percent of third-10th public school students are proficient in English Language Arts and Math in third-eighth yet over 80 percent of students at Miami’s highest performing public schools are at proficient or advanced levels.
To download the full Beyond the Grade: A Close Look at Miami’s K-12 System report, visit partnershipformiami.com/beyond-the-grade-miami-k-12.
For more information, visit partnershipformiami.com and lucyproject.org.
ABOUT US:
For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area.
This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.
Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com.
If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com or Grant@communitynewspapers.com.
