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Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) has been bold and innovative in its quest to narrow achievement and opportunity gaps for all students.
Through an all-hands-on-deck approach, M-DCPS ensures that students from all zip codes are granted equal access to additional learning opportunities, including remediation, enrichment, acceleration and robust systems of support.
M-DCPS is doing everything it can to accelerate learning and address the regression experienced by many students. One of these opportunities is the Saturday Academy, which has been offered for more than a decade and is a successful strategy to improve student learning.
The Saturday Academy is a beyond-the-bell learning opportunity for all students, in which they can engage in meaningful and purposeful instruction with their teachers for approximately four hours. Throughout the years, Saturday Academy has evolved from printed packets to hands-on science labs and blended learning, a combination of technology and conventional teaching strategies and practices.
Thanks to our Digital Convergence Initiative, which was launched in 2012 and funded by taxpayers, we have invested in technology to make learning more engaging and personalized for students.
What else makes Saturday School a success? It’s 12:1 student-teacher ratio, which is considerably smaller than the typical class size during the regular week. There are approximately 1,700 students enrolled at the 36 schools currently offering Saturday School. Enrollment is still open and available.
The program incentivizes participating students with field trips and gift cards to various restaurants and stores. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are served, and transportation is provided for Saturday Academy attendees.
Without question, Saturday Academy is a staple within our district and one of the contributing factors that has led to M-DCPS’ “A” rating, as assigned by the Florida Department of Education.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted student learning and disrupted education on a scale never seen before, extended learning opportunities such as Saturday Academy are absolutely critical for mitigating learning loss and addressing unfinished student learning. Therefore, active student participation in Saturday Academy is crucial for accelerating academic achievement.
The past 18 months have been challenging. School closures and the disruptions associated with the pandemic have taken a toll on children’s learning, safety, and wellbeing. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has also reminded us that we are a resilient academic community that is stronger together, and that our resolve and reimagined strength allow us to dream big and give our students the world.
For more specific school site information regarding Saturday Academy, contact your child’s school.
