Understanding

ISCHS

International Studies Charter School 2480 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL, 33135

305-643-2955 http://www.ischs.net

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Contents

Introduction: ISCHS environment ........................................................................................ 3  

a)   Charter schools ............................................................................................................ 3  b)   International Studies .................................................................................................... 4  c)   Accreditation ................................................................................................................. 4

1. French IS in ISCHS ............................................................................................................ 5  

a)   Schedule ........................................................................................................................ 5  b)   What subjects are taught in each language? .......................................................... 6  c)   ESOL .............................................................................................................................. 6  d)   Majors ............................................................................................................................ 7  e)   Teachers ........................................................................................................................ 7  

2. Exams & results .................................................................................................................. 8  

a)   Grades ............................................................................................................................ 8  b)   French exams ............................................................................................................... 9  c)   American exams ........................................................................................................... 9  d)   ISCHS performance ................................................................................................... 10

3. After ISCHS ...................................................................................................................... 11  

a)   When a student goes back to France before 12th grade (Terminale) ................. 11  b)   When a student has passed his French Bac at ISCHS ....................................... 11  c)   When the student wants to stay in the US ............................................................. 11  d)   Where did the alumni go? ......................................................................................... 11

4. Registration at ISCHS .................................................................................................... 12  

a)   Documents for registration : ..................................................................................... 12  b)   Registration during school year: .............................................................................. 12  

1)Tuition in ISCHS ..................................................................................................... 12  

2)  Good to know… ..................................................................................................... 12  

3)  Q & A ...................................................................................................................... 13  

5) Directory ................................................................................................................ 14  

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Introduction: ISCHS environment

a) Charter schools ISCHS is an American charter school. A charter school is a public school that is managed by a private corporation. Therefore charter schools are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter. Charter schools do not have the same freedom as private schools, which can control their own curriculum. Unlike private schools, charter schools are non-profit, set their own goals, and manage their own employees. ISCHS was established in 2004 and provides various curriculums for 6th to 12th grade students, including the French IS program that is the topic of this guide.

American System

French System

Day care DAY CARE Petite section MATERNELLE Day care Moyenne section

Kindergarten

ELEMENTARY

Grande section

PRIMAIRE

1 st grade CP 2nd grade CE1 3rd grade CE2 4th grade CM1 5th grade CM2 6 th grade MIDDLE SCHOOL

= JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

6ème COLLEGE 7th grade 5ème 8th grade 4ème 9th grade

(SENIOR) HIGH SCHOOL

3ème 10th grade 2nde

LYCEE 11th grade 1ère 12th grade terminale

Vocabulary: Americans name the student of each grade in high school:

9th graders are called "freshmen"

10th graders are "sophomores"

11th graders are “juniors”

12th graders are called “seniors”.

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b) International Studies The French International Studies program is unique because ISCHS gives students opportunities to obtain two diplomas; an American high school diploma and a French Baccalaureate. The curriculum is created out of both French requirements from the French Ministry of Education and American requirements from the Florida Department of Education. ISCHS teaches this curriculum at middle and high school levels. This double curriculum requires a lot of work from students and is designed for very motivated students.

c) Accreditation A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in 2003 between the educational authorities of Miami-Dade and the French government. Thanks to this agreement, the curriculum is homologous with a French education, allowing children who move to France to seamlessly continue their education by transferring into the same grade level in France. You might download on our website the proof of accreditation by France. This document will be requested when registering your child in another school in France. You also must be aware that, the double curriculum is also an American curriculum, so it’s very different from what would be taught in a ”lycée français”.

! For more info on French homologation, please visit AEFE web site

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1. French IS in ISCHS At ISCHS, French IS is taught from 6th to 12th Grade (what would be 6ème to Terminale in the French terminology). The entire program is homologous with France.

a) Schedule From Monday to Friday: Middle school (6 th to 8 th): from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. High School (9 th to 12 th): from 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM .

Please see table on next page for more detail on schedule and program. Holidays are observed according to the American calendar.

! Calendar 2014/2015: http://www.dadeschools.net/calendars/ ! Homework: students are expected to work 2 hours a day at home when in middle school and 3 hours a day when in high school. ! Community service in high school: within IS, high school students are required to volunteer 100 hours of community service (25 hours per grade level from 9th to 12th). This volunteer time allows the child to better understand the world he’s living in and to help him develop a strong sense of community. Service hours can be logged by volunteering for non-profit organizations. FIPA is one organization which regularly utilizes these volunteers for its various activities. Please, contact fipa@fipamiami.org When the student arrives in High School, he has to complete a “community service project proposal”: it’s a project regarding one specific association (find by the student). The student has to complete the form explaining the project and then, he has to do at least 10 hours regarding this project. After that, he can continue to gain his hours with any association or activities. mailto:http://ischs.net/ourpages/auto/2011/11/7/48589697/Project%2520Proposal%2520Final%2520Copy.pdf ! Projects: An American curriculum frequently requires that students work on projects. They look like “exposés” in France but require more research from students than in the French system. Projects might be related to sciences or language arts or history. They teach students how to work in a team. Projects are always graded and are taken into consideration in the student’s final grade. ! Please note that in 9th grade (3ème in France), students are not required to find an internship with an external company. This has no impact on the French exam “Brevet des Colleges” since there is no grade for internships.

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b) What subjects are taught in each language? The main subjects of the French program are taught in French while American subjects are taught in English. American and French methods of teaching and learning are very different. Therefore, students simultaneously learn two ways of working, which creates multicultural global minds.

Grade (F / US)

Subjects taught in English (Floridian program)

Subjects taught in French (French Program bac ES)

6ème / 6th grade

Language Arts + Geography + Science + ESOL/Physical Edu.*

Math + French + Humanities ! 15h / week in French

5ème / 7th grade

Language Arts + Social Studies + Science + ESOL/Physical Edu. *

Math + French + Humanities !15h / week in French

4ème / 8th grade

Language Arts + US History + Science + ESOL/Physical Edu. *

Math + French + Humanities !15h / week in French

3ème / 9th grade

English + Speech/Career Research + Biology + ESOL/Spanish/Intensive Reading*

Math + French + Art History + Humanities ! 15h / week in French

2nde / 10th grade

English + Creative Writing + ESOL/Spanish/Intensive Reading*

Math + French + Humanities + Sciences + « Enseignements d’exploration » (SES or LV3)

! 25h / week in French 1ère /

11th grade English + American History + Science + ESOL/SAT preparation/ Intensive Reading*

Math + French + Humanities + SES+ TPE

! 21h / week in French Terminale / 12th

grade English + American Government/ Economics + Science + ESOL/ Spanish/PE/Intensive Reading*

Math + Humanities + Philosophy + Economics (SES)

! 20h / week in French * cf § ESOL,

c) ESOL ESOL means English for Speakers of Other Language. When a student arrives in the US system, he is tested in order to measure his academic level in English language. These tests are administered by Miami-Dade. The result ranges from 1 (lowest level) to 5 (best level). When enrolled in ESOL, the child has an increased exposure to English in order to allow him to make fast improvements. Some subjects are also graded considering the level of English language of the student. Students continue to be tested each year until ESOL studies are no longer necessary. The test is called CELLA (and is very different from other English tests he might already have passed TOEFL, Cambridge, etc.) it’s a written and oral exam. When passing CELLA, the student is allowed to get out of ESOL system. Nevertheless, because of these extra hours of English studies, ESOL students are not able to choose an elective or have a Spanish class. That means that as long as a student is considered as an ESOL, he cannot learn a second language (LV2, LV3 in French terminology). It is strongly recommended to get out of ESOL system as soon as possible.

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d) Majors In 11th and 12th Grade (1ère & Terminale), ISCHS offers to French Baccalaureate students the ES program (Social Studies). Children who want to major in literature (L) or Sciences (S) are strongly encouraged to register for CNED (online education) and also take a tutor for core subjects along with the CNED.

e) Teachers American subjects are taught by American teachers certified by the State of Florida. French subjects are taught by French teachers who can be categorized as shown below:

- Teachers certified by the French Ministry of Education and hired locally by the school. Certified by both the State of Florida and France, they have also been trained to be able to teach in an international environment.

- Teachers involved as “International Volunteers” -- someone who has recently earned a diploma in their field in France and has been allowed by the French Foreign Ministry to teach for 2 years abroad.

- Local teachers. Teachers who have been hired by the school and have a French diploma in their field but are not certified by the French Ministry of Education.

- Teachers certified by French Ministry of Education and expatriated from France for 1 or 2 years (Jules Verne program) and have provisional certification from the State of Florida. Since 2013, France made drastic budget cuts and no more teacher from Jules Verne program has been sent to Miami.

In 2014/2015, ISCHS’s French IS program is staffed with a French IS Coordinator, Frederic Bernerd and 6 French teachers. mailto:fbernerd@dadeschools.net

Try to attend the open house, you will meet with Faculty and will get their contact info. You can also access the email directory on ISCHS website.

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2. Exams & results

a) Grades Students are graded according to the American system which ranges from A+ (excellent) to F (failure). Grades can apply to homework, tests or projects presented in school. The grade conversation table below compares the American system to the French system.

Students receive a report card each quarter. The grade point average (GPA) is an important criteria used by American universities in the admissions process. GPA is calculated by taking the number of grade points a student earned in a given period of time divided by the total number of credits taken. GPA ranges from 0 to 4 : A = 4.0 and up ; B = 3.0-3.9; C = 2.0-2.9; D = 1.0-1.9 and an F = less than 1.0.

! For more info: www.back2college.com/gpa.htm Miami-Dade provides parents and students a useful website: www.dadeschools.net. Parents can monitor their child’s grades and attendance. Parents must request their login and password information from the school administration.

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b) French exams Students are able to take French exams in Miami: “Brevet des Collèges” is offered at the end of 9th grade (3ème), Early Baccalaureate (French, sciences, TPE) at the end of 11th grade (1ère), and the Baccalauréat exams after 12th grade (Terminale). " Brevet des collèges : This National diploma is passed by French students at the end of the 9th grade (3ème). To be awarded a diploma, students must achieve the 7 common core skills and attain a minimum of 190 points (out of 380). Written exams are: French, Math and History & Geography, all taken in June. Art History is an oral exam organized in the school in May. All the grades earned during the year are taking into account for the final grade (“contrôle continu”). " French Baccalauréat: The Baccalaureate is an academic qualification. This exam is taken partially at the end of 11th grade (1ere) and 12th grade (Terminale). At the end of 11th Grade, student will be evaluated in French Language Art and Science. The second part of the examination will be taken at the end of 12th grade for all other subjects. The subjects taught and evaluated (as well as their weight in the final score) depend on the major chosen by the student. There are many majors, but the 3 main are Literature (L), Scientific (S) and Economics (ES). When a student passes the exam he's insured to enter a French University (conditions of admission may vary) which cost is very low compared with the American College (Tuition fees are around 1,000€ / year). In Miami, ISCHS is the only Testing Center for this exam (both written and oral components).

c) American exams " SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test): this national exam (mostly MCQ) is usually held during junior and senior years (1ère and terminale). It can be taken multiple times during the year. SAT Results are requested to apply to US colleges and universities.

!More info on www.collegeboard.com

! ACT : The ACT exam is composed of four tests, each of which is designed to measure academic achievement in a major area: English, mathematics, reading, and science. There are 2 versions of the ACT : the standard ACT and the ACT Plus Writing, for which the student writes an essay. Some universities require results from the ACT Plus Writing while others will consider results from the standard ACT. Check the University’s website for requirements.

ACT and SAT are two distinct exams but there are some conversion tables between these two tests. It is very important to check with each University the student wants to attend to identify whether they have a preference. It is also important to know when each University’s application deadline is since most selective Universities close their registration very early during the year and exam results will need to be included. ! AP exams: Advanced Placement classes (AP) are University-level courses that students can take in high school or even middle school. Students take an exam to determine AP credits earned: Passing grades are 3, 4 or 5. AP credits earned are very well considered

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during admission at some universities. Moreover, AP credits can sometimes be converted to university credits, which save time and money! At ISCHS, AP classes offered are: AP English language, AP English literature, AP French language, AP US History, AP US Government, AP Calculus, AP biology, AP Macroeconomics, AP European History, AP World History, AP Human Geography, AP Spanish language, AP Spanish literature, AP Italian language. " FCAT (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test) : This test measures student achievement in reading, mathematics, science and writing. Results are taken into account on the student’s final grade. This test is very important to schools and teachers in Florida, since results are used to evaluate Florida student performance and to rank schools. School ranking impact school budgets and teachers’ bonuses. " Warning if the student does not reach a score of 3 out of 5 on the FCAT, he must retake the exam in order to get the American High School Diploma. A student who do not pass the exam is required to take an extra class to prepare the exam : in that case a French class can be replaced by one intensive English or math class. IMPORTANT: If the student joins an American school during Middle or High School he might not have the required level or skills to pass these exams. The school provides tutoring in every subject. And many private companies provide tutoring specific to these exams too. The student counselor at ISCHS can help you to find one.

d) ISCHS performance

Results of French Bac testing

2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008

Registered 9 4 5 12 11 12 4 Passed the Bac 9 4 5 11 10 11 3

with mention TB 1 1 1 2 with mention B 2 1 1 2 1

with mention AB 5 2 3 2 3 1 The French Bac was organized in Miami for the first time in 2011. Before that time, students were required to travel to Washington, D.C. to take the test. ISCHS is rated an “A+” High School and “A” Middle School according to FCAT results. It ranks in the top 5 high schools in Miami. Its AP results are 30% above the Florida and US average. Please also refer to the ranking established by US News : http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/florida/districts/miami-dade-county-public-schools/international-studies-charter-high-school-4898

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3. After ISCHS

a) When a student goes back to France before 12th grade (Terminale) Since he has taken a program which is homologous with France’s program, he will be able to transfer into a middle or high school in French at the same level (assuming the student has achieved acceptable grades). To register in France, he will forward his American transcript. The school will recognize why the student does not have a complete French curriculum, as this happens across European curriculums. Since the student has completed a program approved by the French education ministry, re-entering a public school in France should take place without any additional requirements.

b) When a student has passed his French Bac at ISCHS Congratulations! In France, and also in Europe, achieving a Baccalaureat opens the door to Universities. In the US, students may be awarded academic credits for a Bac, depending on university policy.

! More info at: http://www.wes.org/ (World Education Services).

c) When the student wants to stay in the US Each college or University has its own admission criteria. SAT scores will most of the time be required. TOEFL will be required for international students.

d) Where did the alumni go? Class of 2014 - 1 to McGill University / Desautels Faculty of Management - 2 to Concordia University in Montréal. - 1 to Sciences-Po Paris - 1 to FIU in Miami - 2 to Miami Dade College Class of 2012 - 2 to Concordia University in Montréal. - 2 to FIU in Miami - 1 to Miami Dade College Class of 2011 - 1 to prépa ECE in Saint Michel de Picpus (Paris – France). - 1 to prépa ECE in lycée Flaubert (Rouen – France). - 1 to prépa ECE inlycée Bertholet ‘Annecy – France). - 1 to McGill University in Montréal. - 1 to Concordia University in Montréal. - 1 to STAPS (Bordeaux - France). - 1 to University of Florida in Gainesville. This student gained 23 AP credits - 1 to Barry University in Miami. - 1 to UM in Miami - 2 to FIU in Miami (25 crédits with the bac). - 2 to Miami-Dade College. - 1 to an American Piloting school in Daytona Beach (he had failed the Bac).

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4. Registration at ISCHS IMPORTANT: as a charter, the student does not have to live in a specific area in order to apply. Please respect deadline to register (usually in December, date is posted on the school’s website).

a) Documents for registration :

• Registration form (to be downloaded on the school’s website). • Student’s passport • Student’s visa, • “Blue and Yellow” forms : 3040 (yellow = Florida Student Health Exam )& 680 (blue

= Florida Certificate of Immunization),* • School transcript

* These forms are mandatory if the child is transferring from a school outside of Florida. To complete the health forms, see a pediatrician certified by Miami-Dade. ! Admission tests are organized every year at ISCHS. Check on the website for the dates (November & December). mailto:http://www.internationalstudiescharter.org/forms/high_school_application/index.jsp

b) Registration during school year: Usually spaces are available for transfers. The process is the same as explained above. Please note that since the school is very popular, there’s no guarantee of acceptance during school year.

1) Tuition in ISCHS ISCHS is a public school so there are neither fees nor tuition. Books are provided to the students. This program is funded by Miami Dade County and helped by FIPA, a non-profit organization of parents. Your participation and membership to FIPA is vital for the permanence of the program. Nevertheless, in a Charter school, parents are required to provide volunteer hours to the school: 30h/family/year for the first child enrolled at ISCHS, 15h/year for the second child and 7,5h/year for additional children. For more info, contact Leonela Rohaidi at the school. You have to register as a volunteer in the “Parent Portal” of Dadeschools.net If parents cannot or do not want to provide volunteer hours, they may be waived by paying $5 per hour not done. "Parental Volunteer hours are distinct from community hours high school students have to do to graduate. (cf. § 2a)

2) Good to know… School: ISCHS is a small school (700 students in 2014/2015 among them 139 in the French IS). Therefore students can access their teachers very easily and create a friendly learning environment with their peers. ISCHS is located in the heart of the historical Cuban district (Calle Ocho) and is easy to access. However, this urban environment does not allow ISCHS to offer students the same facilities (particularly for sports) as a traditional American high school.

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Lunch: A catering service delivers lunches every day. The lunch menu can be accessed online. The lunch break is 35 minutes; there is no recess time. Students can also bring their own lunch box. Clubs: Clubs are specific to American schools. Club’s involvement is greatly appreciated by colleges & universities. Clubs are a great source of community hours opportunities. ISCHS offers a variety of clubs among them NHS, Key Club, Debate club, Film & video games, Chess club, Math (Mu Alpha Theta), etc. Please see with Activities Director (Michael Campbell). Bus: students may use public school busses (free of charge if they live within the school boundaries but further than 2 miles from the school). There are also numerous private bus companies. Ask other parents, FIPA or the school PTSA for contact information (Parents association). Uniform: as in most public schools in Florida, students are required to wear a uniform with the school logo embroidered on the shirt. For more info on what is allowed and on additional school rules, please visit: http://www.ischs.net/

3) Q & A Our son is in 9th grade in ISCHS and we are moving to France next year. What is going to happen? Since he is coming from a curriculum homologous with France’s, your son will be eligible to attend 10th grade in a French school next year. Check the admissions process in the city you are moving to, as most public high schools in France are boundary schools. We just learned about our transfer to Miami next February. Can our daughter (currently in 10th grade in France) attend ISCHS when we arrive here in February? Check the admission process above. Please note that since the school is very popular, there’s no guarantee of acceptance during school year. Is the French IS only for French national? No! Nevertheless, students will have to pass the admission level test in French in order to attend French classes with success. Our son is in 12th grade but he’s ESOL. He therefore cannot take an elective (ie. LV2) which is mandatory to take the Bac. How will he manage? He will have to take extra lessons in this elective outside of school. It is strongly suggested not to arrive in the middle of 12th grade. A student who does not have the required level of proficiency in English will have to take ESOL instead of a second language or PE. Likewise, if he has not passed the FCAT yet, he will most likely have to take classes in order to pass this exam. As an American school, ISCHS must adhere to Florida’s rules. Some subjects, mandatory in the French curriculum, are taught in English (with American content). How will this be taken into account for the Brevet? These subjects will still be taken into account for the “contrôle continu “even though they are taught in English. The American grade will be converted to the equivalent French grade.

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With a French Bac/an IS curriculum, does my daughter have the same opportunity to enter a good American university? Every American university has its own admissions criteria. Usually they look at several factors: among them GPA, SAT/ACT results and AP credits. Most prestigious universities will also ask for letters of recommendation and take into consideration extra-curricular activities (Clubs, sports, arts, community hours, etc.). The IS curriculum is very well known by American schools and the French Bac is also a good way to make a difference. What is the difference between IS & IB? IS is the only bilingual curriculum taught in Miami-Dade. French is not considered a foreign language since French content is also taught there. At the end of the IS program, the student will have both French and American diplomas which will allow him to enter an American or European university. IB curriculum “International Baccalaureate” is sometimes called “Geneva Bac”. It is a full American program in which French is a subject among others (world history, world literature, sciences, math and 1 elective which may vary from one school to another), taught in English. This is also a very rigorous curriculum which is highly appreciated by American universities. It is not recognized by French universities and if the student wants to continue his education in France he will have to pass exams to be eligible to enter one. However, the IB program is recognized by Germany, Italy and other European countries.

5. Directory - Victoriano Rodriguez, Principal

- ISCHS is managed by ACADEMICA, represented by Fernando Zuleta.

- Frederic Bernerd, French IS Coordinator For any information please contact : fbernerd@dadeschools.net

- Ms Michelle Correa, is the College Advisor and provides College Prep information. Refer to her for any matter regarding university admissions (in the US and Canada). - Ms Annie Rodriguez, is the School Counselor and provides service for students. Refer to her for any schedule change, parent-teacher conference, tutoring if needed, etc.

As in every American school, ISCHS has a parents association called PTSA (Parents Teachers Students Association). They organize monthly meetings with parents, teachers and the principal. Students can attend. Be part of the PTSA to keep informed with the school’s events and get parents volunteer hours. Another active association within the school is FIPA (French International Program Association) which takes care of French IS in Miami (see following page). FIPA liaison at ISCHS are: Hélène FILIPECKI 786 427-5784 h.filipecki@gmail.com Chantal FIRINO HERVADA 786 277-9998 hervadas@gmail.com

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This guide has been created by FIPA with the help of ISCHS, ISCHS Student service and the French Consulate in Miami in order to help parents and children to better understand ISCHS. This guide is yours. Do not hesitate to send us your comments to fipa@fipa-miami.org

The French International Program Association (FIPA) is a not-for-profit organization which purpose is to serve as a liaison between the Miami-Dade County Public Schools and the French government and to provide pedagogical tools and means to the schools to maintain the level of the program at its best. Eventually, FIPA finances international professors, along with the purchase of educational materials, textbooks and school supplies. It also collects funds for the establishment of training courses for French teachers.

FIPA plays its role in the 4 public schools teaching French IS program in Miami Dade: Sunset and Coconut Grove (Elementary schools), Carver Middle School and ISCHS (middle and high school).

Be a partner of your kid’s education by becoming a member of FIPA. The stronger we will be, the better our curriculum will remain and if we, as parents, do not take care of our child’s education, who will?

For more info on FIPA or to become a member please visit www.fipa-miami.org