FOUNDATION FOR NEW EDUCATION INITIATIVES INC

SUMMER YOUTH INTERNSHIP PROGRAM: THE SUMMER YOUTH INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (SYIP) IS ONE OF MIAMIDADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS' MOST TRANSFORMATIVE WORKFORCE INITIATIVES, OFFERING THOUSANDS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PAID, FIVEWEEK, REALWORLD WORK EXPERIENCES THAT BUILD PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, EXPAND CAREER PATHWAYS, AND STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL TALENT PIPELINE. IN 2025, MORE THAN 3,600 STUDENTS ENROLLED AND COMPLETED THE PROGRAM. INTERNS GAINED EXPERIENCE ACROSS HIGH-DEMAND INDUSTRIES SUCH AS HEALTHCARE, TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION, AND PUBLIC SERVICE, BUILDING CAREER SKILLS THAT ALIGN WITH THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF THE REGIONAL ECONOMY.STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS: THROUGH SEVERAL SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE FRANCIS A. METCALF SCHOLARSHIP FUND, FNEI SCHOLARSHIP AND THE DR. LARRY AND AVIS FELDMAN FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP GRANT, DESERVING STUDENTS RECEIVE STIPENDS TO HELP COVER THE COST OF POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. OVER 40 STUDENTS BENEFITED DIRECTLY FROM STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS.CULTURAL PASSPORT: THE CULTURAL PASSPORT PROGRAM IS AN INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS' K-12 STUDENTS WITH CULTURAL FIELD EXPERIENCES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 28 SOUTH FLORIDA CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS AND VENUES, THIS PROGRAM ENSURES EQUAL ACCESS TO ARTS AND CULTURE FOR EVERY CHILD. NEARLY 40,000 STUDENTS ATTENDED A CULTURAL EXPERIENCE IN 2024-2025.PROJECT UP-START: PROJECT UP-START IS A M-DCPS PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH LIVING IN UNSTABLE HOUSING IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. THE PROGRAM ASSISTS SCHOOLS WITH THE IDENTIFICATION, ENROLLMENT, AND ATTENDANCE OF STUDENTS IN UNSTABLE HOUSING TO HELP ENSURE THEIR SUCCESSFUL ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. IN 2024-2025, THE PROGRAM SERVED 7,383 FAMILIES AND 10,300 STUDENTS AT SATELLITE OFFICES AND SHELTER FACILITIES. OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, THE PROJECT UP-START TEAM ALSO PROVIDED SUPPORT TO ELIGIBLE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN THE FORM OF GIFT CARDS, MEALS, CLOTHING AND SHOES AND HYGIENE KITS. 90 STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE LETTERS ALSO RECEIVED A FULLY PACKED DUFFLE BAG, EQUIPPED WITH ESSENTIALS TO SUPPORT THEIR TRANSITION TO CAMPUS LIFE. THE PROGRAM ALSO SUPPORTED GRADUATING SENIORS BY ELIMINATING FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO KEY MILESTONE EVENTS A CAP AND GOWN FOR GRADUATION AND TICKETS TO PROM. MARKETPLACE PANTRY: THE M-DCPS MARKETPLACE IS A DEDICATED SCHOOL SITE PANTRY DESIGNED TO SUPPORT STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND FACULTY IN NEED. THE PROJECT SERVES AS A CRITICAL RESOURCE FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ACROSS MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, ADDRESSING THE URGENT NEEDS OF THOSE FACING HOMELESSNESS, FOOD INSECURITY, AND UNEXPECTED HARDSHIPS. THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES OF THE MARKETPLACE ARE STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND FACULTY MEMBERS REFERRED BY SCHOOL STAFF. SECONDARY BENEFICIARIES OF THE PROJECT ARE OUTSIDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AS OF MARCH 2025, THE MARKETPLACE PROGRAM HAD SERVED 14,150 STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AND DISTRIBUTED 383,900 POUNDS OF FOOD.STEAM/STEM LABS: STE(A)M LABS ARE AN EDUCATIONAL SPACE DESIGNED TO INTEGRATE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, AND MATHEMATICS. IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, STE(A)M LABS GIVE EVERY CHILD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES THAT WILL PROVIDE THE EXPERIENCE NEEDED TO SUCCEED IN OUR EVER-INCREASING COMPETITIVE HIGH-TECH WORLD. IN 2024-2025, THE PROGRAM RECEIVED A $10,000 GRANT TO COVER THE COST OF ROBOTICS KITS FOR 18 SCHOOLS. MINI GRANTS FOR TEACHERS: AN ANNUAL MINI GRANT COMPETITION FOR TEACHERS TO IMPLEMENT INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT FOSTER ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. $3,000 GRANTS ARE AWARDED TO TWO TEACHERS IN EACH OF THE THREE DISTRICT REGIONS. FUTURE BOUND MIAMI: THE FUTURE BOUND PROGRAMTHE FIRST UNIVERSAL CHILDREN'S SAVINGS ACCOUNT PROGRAM IN FLORIDA IS DESIGNED TO HELP STUDENTS IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SAVE FOR THEIR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION. THE PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS ATTENDING PARTICIPATING PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PROVIDES AN INITIAL DEPOSIT OF UP TO $50 INTO THE CHILD'S SAVINGS ACCOUNT TO JUMPSTART THEIR SAVINGS. FAMILIES CAN MAKE ADDITIONAL DEPOSITS INTO THE ACCOUNT OVER TIME. THE GREEN FUND: THE FUND WAS CREATED TO HELP MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUILD A CULTURE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE THROUGH THE GREEN SCHOOLS RECOGNITION PROGRAM (GSRP). THE GSRP AWARDS SCHOOLS WHO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND IN THEIR COMMITMENT TO SHAPING A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY ON CAMPUS AND ENCOURAGES SCHOOLS TO ACT FOR A HEALTHIER SCHOOL AND ENVIRONMENT.