Office of Intergovernmental Affairs,
Grants Administration, and Community Engagement
Miami-Dade County Public Schools, America’s fourth-largest school system with a diverse enrollment of greater than 340,000 students from more than 100 countries, offers innovative education programs at its more than 400 schools, including elementary, middle, senior high and alternative, specialized and career/technical centers. The District has an annual capital and operating budget of approximately $4.3 billion.
Under the leadership of Assistant Superintendent Iraida Mendez-Cartaya, the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Grants Administration, and Community Engagement handles legislative issues; intergovernmental relations on local, state, federal and international levels; grants management; compliance with the 2001 Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA); and community engagement activities, including school volunteer and business partnership programs and various forms of support for student learning and parent involvement.
The Intergovernmental Affairs team advances the School Board’s legislative program. Miami-Dade County Public Schools has a vested interest in the legislative process, as nearly 90 percent of the District’s operating revenues come directly from state funds and the state-mandated Required Local Effort (RLE) millage levy.
The Grants team is strategically divided into two units: Grants Development and Financial Reporting. They secure and manage supplemental funding, including more than $137 million in competitive grants and more than $753 million in total grants in 2009-2010, a greater than 66 percent increase over the last five years.
The Community Engagement team encourages the community to support student success and the employees who dedicate themselves to that mission. Whether its volunteers serving as mentors and tutors, or parents participating in Parent Academy family learning events, or a local company providing student incentives or internships, these programs enrich the school environment. The goal is to enhance communication with parents and the community-at-large by providing opportunities for them to play an important role in public education. By mobilizing and channeling resources into the school system, the team is able to create partnerships that impact student learning and achievement.September 2010 |
