Objective:

To expound upon the roles that businesses can play in improving K-12 public education, covering partnerships, mentorship programs, and initiatives that foster educational excellence and equity.

 

Subject Matter Experts:
•    Armando Codina, Founder and Executive Chairman, Codina Partners
•    Dr. Jose L. Dotres, Superintendent, Miami-Dade County Public Schools
•    Rose Ellen Greene, Philanthropist
•    Linda Lecht, President, The Education Fund
•    Facilitator: Natalia Zea, Chief Public Policy and Engagement Officer, The Children’s Trust
•    Dialogue Activist: Joy Spillis Lundeen, Partner, Bilzin Sumberg

 

Working Group Action Steps

1. Continue discussion about advocacy related to systems-level change, inclusive of possible political referendum to restructure labor policies and salaries related to K-12 teachers. The Beacon Council’s Opportunity Miami/Academic Leaders Council has volunteered to be the lead collaborator on these efforts.

2. Create communications/community engagement strategy and platform to clearly demonstrate to the business community what steps they can take to support public education and what is in it for them/why they should support.

3. Business community should support early literacy supports across the board to get students on grade reading level. (Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce has literacy support efforts and The Children’s Trust is a demonstrated leader in this area, particularly as host of Miami-Dade Grade Level Reading Campaign. The Superintendent also expressed support of focusing on this approach as one component.)

4. Business community should support organizations that provide wraparound family services to assist students with essential needs, by supporting their families. This is inclusive of care coordination, mental health counseling, parenting supports, family stabilization (food security, housing, transportation), and more.

5. Continued consideration of support for innovative models of public education, whether M-DCPS or through charter schools.