Save the French IS Program in Miami’s Public Schools

The IS program was created more than 25 years ago, following an agreement signed between the French government and Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS). This one-of-a-kind bi-national program allows children of French heritage as well as those children whose families appreciate the French culture to receive a full bilingual education in Miami – at no cost. This unique Franco-American curriculum is provided in an American public school setting from 1st grade until 12th grade when students are eligible to take the French baccalaureate exam (the one given in France). Miami is the only city in the United States to even propose this type of program!

The agreement signed between France and MDCPS called for the district to welcome those students who wished to receive a French education of the same level, quality, and content as the education provided in any school in France, while simultaneously receiving the same instruction in English as the American students. This unique IS program received its accreditation (“Homologation”) from France. Moreover, the French government committed itself to not only providing French professors trained in France but also financing their salaries. As such, 7 instructors were sent from France up until the 2012-13 academic year to teach at these schools in Miami. Through this dual degree IS program, students receive both the American high school diploma along with the French Baccalaureate which allows them to access universities in France as well as in the United States and Canada.

In addition, the French Baccalaureate is recognized by the American and Canadian universities, which allows the graduates to validate their credits and enables them to gain one or more years of undergraduate education. Dr. Leyte Vidal, Principal of Sunset Elementary School, one of the key actors in Miami’s IS Program, wrote me on Oct. 26th: “Again, after 30 years of developing and delivering a high quality French Program to French families and families from around the world, the French Program at Sunset Elementary should be grandfathered in and be exempt of these new policies.”

We have already received the support of:
Mr Louis Duvernois, Senator representing French people living abroad
Mr. Frédéric Lefebvre, Deputy of the First Constituency for French Residents Overseas
Mrs. Nicole Hirsh, Advisor to the Assembly representing French people living abroad (AFE)
Mr. Xavier Capdevielle, Consular Advisor, Vice-Président of the Consular Consul in Florida
Mr. Jacques Brion, Consular Advisor
Mr. Franck Bondrille, Consular Advisor

I have also met with the Ambassador of France to the United States, Mr. Gérard ARAUD, and the French Consul to Miami, Mr. Philippe Létrilliard.

The 900 students currently enrolled in this extraordinary program, their families, FIPA and myself need your help and support to make ourselves heard.

We ask you to click « LIKE » on this Facebook page to give more strength to our collective voice in this campaign against the « dis-accreditation » (DE-HOMOLOGATION
) of the French IS program at MDCPS.

We ask that you also publish this petition on your page so that your friends “LIKE” our call to action.

Thank you in advance for your support!

Roger Pardo
FIPA President