The Parent Academy
Announced on November 17, 2004, Miami-Dade County Public Schools plans on starting a new program to help educate parents.  The program is scheduled to open fall of 2005.  According to the School District's press release:

"The Parent Academy will focus on building parents' knowledge and skills in three ways:

• Helping parents to understand and navigate M-DCPS' schools and programs to get the highest quality education for their children, including their transition to postsecondary education and work
• Boosting parents' capacity to assist in their children's learning at home
  
• Raising parents' own academic and vocational skills" 19
  

For more information, visit Newsline.

Solicitation of Business Sponsorship
Miami-Dade County Public Schools has been working with business to gain additional funding.  The city has published a list of reasons to convince businesses to help financially.  This convincing list of appeals for financial support can be found at http://news.dadeschools.net/topten.htm.

Lawmakers Act
State legislators have recently worked to achieve a new statewide pre-kindergarten program included in a larger program called "KidCare".  While funding for this program has proven to be inadequate, state legislators in Tallahassee recently passed measures to increase funding and strengthen the program.  For more information, visit The Miami Herald.