Selection of Zone Schools
The 39 schools included in the School Improvement Zone were selected based on three criteria:

Low academic performance for three years
Feeder patterns in which low performance is widespread
Leadership capacity

Schools from eight feeder patterns are part of the Zone.

The Zone schools are not the only Miami-Dade County schools ever to earn F's in the state's accountability ratings. In some cases, the 2003 - 2004 grade for a Zone school is not an F. Currently, nine Zone schools are under state mandate for school improvement.

The Zone's Academic Program
Literacy Focus

The academic focus in every grade will ensure that all students are proficient readers.
This will be accomplished through:

Use of common reading material across all grades and across all Zone schools

Intensive small group instruction for students scoring at Levels I and II on the FCAT and those retained in grade 3

Regular Assessment for Diagnosis and Monitoring
Student assessment data will guide instruction in all Zone schools.

Zone schools will use technology management system to analyze assessment data.

Instructional Enhancements
Students in grades 6 and 9 will participate in a Transition Academy that will orient them to the next phase of their schooling. The Academy will focus on promotion and graduation requirements, career readiness, character education and code of student conduct compliance, study habits and FCAT preparedness.

Students will be required to carry out research projects in grades 6 through 9.

Student will create a career portfolio in middle school, starting in grade 6, and a job portfolio in senior high schools, starting in grade 9.

Scheduling and Student Assignment
Zone schools will use block scheduling to permit additional instructional time directed at literacy, while preserving teachers' planning time and other instructional areas such as art, music, physical education and world languages instruction.

Support for Instruction in the Zone
Professional Development
Every educator - teachers and administrators - will take part in professional development.

Identified Zone principals will be paired with a mentor principal.