Miami-Dade school superintendent: Making college possible starts early | Opinion

The students in our classrooms today will shape the future of our county, and our responsibility is to ensure every child has a clear path beyond high school graduation.

Some students may stop seeing college as an option, not because of their ability but because of concerns about cost. In Miami-Dade, we are focused on addressing those concerns early and making sure students understand that a college pathway is within reach. With more than 300,000 students in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, rising costs can make college seem out of reach for many families.

Research is clear. Children with even small amounts of savings designated for education are significantly more likely to enroll in and complete post-secondary education. Savings build expectations, confidence and a pathway forward.

In response, Miami-Dade County launched Future Bound Miami, a Children’s Savings Account initiative that has grown from a pilot in 2019 to a countywide effort serving more than 300 schools. Today, every kindergarten student in Miami-Dade County Public Schools has access to a savings account.

Across Miami-Dade, more than 19,000 students already have activated accounts, reflecting a growing movement of families investing in their children’s futures. This momentum is building among our youngest learners. While we celebrate the more than 4,000 kindergarten families who have already activated this year, there is still time for others to take that important first step. We encourage every kindergarten family to activate while the window remains open. Each activation sends a powerful message to a child: their future matters, and their path to college is within reach.

Access is only the first step. The next phase is ensuring that families are saving consistently, building financial habits and connecting those actions to long-term educational and economic goals.

This work is powered by a strong consortium of partners including Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Foundation, The Children’s Trust, United Way Miami, the City of Miami, Miami-Dade County, The Miami Foundation, EdFed, Junior Achievement, Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and others. Together, these partners have built one of the most comprehensive Children’s Savings Account systems in the country.

Just as importantly, this effort is building a broader ecosystem of support for families. Through school-based engagement, financial literacy programming and partnerships with community organizations and financial institutions, families are gaining access not only to savings accounts but to financial coaching, tools and services that strengthen both immediate financial stability and long-term economic mobility.

Miami-Dade County has invested in student incentives to ensure that children begin their accounts with a financial foundation. In partnership with the city of Miami, families who make deposits into their children’s accounts can now benefit from matched savings, helping accelerate savings growth and reinforce positive financial habits.

As we recognize Financial Literacy Month, we are calling on families across Miami-Dade County to take the next step by activating your child’s account and joining us on May 30 at the Overtown Performing Arts Center for a community-wide Future Bound Miami event. This gathering offers a hands-on opportunity to make deposits, learn about financial tools and connect with partners dedicated to your child’s long-term stability. Even the smallest deposit reinforces a child’s expectation that postsecondary success is within reach.

We have built the foundation. Now we must deepen engagement, strengthen savings and expand opportunity. The future of Miami-Dade will be defined by what we make possible for our children today. Join us in this mission by visiting futureboundmiami.org.

Jose L. Dotres is the superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools.