A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING FUNDING FOR THE GENERAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT ("GED") AND ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES ("ESOL") CLASSES FOR MIAMI BEACH RESIDENTS ENROLLED AT MIAMI BEACH ADULT AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTER FOR THE 2021 SCHOOL YEAR, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT SCHOOL YEAR, SUBJECT TO FUNDING APPROVAL DURING THE CITY’S BUDGETARY PROCESS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $11,700 PER SCHOOL YEAR; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS OR AGREEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROGRAM.

The administration is seeking approval to utilize remaining scholarship GED/ESOL funds for Fall 2021 and continue funding of the Miami Beach Adult and Community Education Scholarship Program for City residents enrolling in GED and ESOL classes at the Miami Beach Adult and Community Education Center for the 2021-22 school year (Fall, Winter, and Spring semesters) and each subsequent fiscal year.

In July 2020 the Commission approved Resolution 2020-31324 authorizing funding of up to $11,700 for the General Education Development (GED) and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes for Miami Beach residents enrolled in Fall 2020 at Miami Beach Adult and Community Education Center, appropriated from the City’s General Fund for Fiscal Year 2020. On October 15, 2020, the City signed an agreement with the School Board to provide these services.

On February 22, 2021, the City amended its original agreement with the School Board to extend the term to March 22, 2021.

The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course is designed to provide English language and literacy instruction for English language learner adults whose first language is other than English and who are non-literate or semi-literate in their home language, in order to increase their ability to communicate in English. The instructional focus is to prepare adult learners to use English for entering the career and technical and/or postsecondary education, employment, and participation in civic life. 

The GED course of instruction prepares students for academic and personal success through obtaining the necessary skills required to pass the official GED test and earn a State of Florida High School Diploma. This program strives to motivate students not only to obtain the diploma but also to utilize the acquired skills in the workforce and to achieve career and job placement success.

During Fall 2020 and Winter 2020 the ESOL and GED scholarship provided 77 Miami Beach adult residents a scholarship in a total cost to the City of $2,310, or $30 per participant.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic and its adverse impact on Miami Beach's vulnerable residents, enrollment in GED and ESOL classes continues to be low, due to financial constraints of Miami Beach families. The hospitality industry continues to suffer impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; in order to ensure that our workforce remains on Miami Beach, as they are the backbone of our hospitality industry, removing obstacles to their ability to attain and improve basic skills like English proficiency and high school graduation equivalency, is critical. It is anticipated that with continued funding and with the expected return of in-person classes, more Miami Beach residents will take advantage of this scholarship opportunity.

$11,000 included in the FY2022 Enhancement Request list

$9,390 remaining of $11,700 budgeted for FY2021