About the Center for Urban Education & Innovation at the College of Education in Florida International University in Miami, FL:

Our Mission

The Center for Urban Education & Innovation is dedicated to the work of schools and communities who are in pursuit of social justice, equity, and academic excellence.

We are committed to:

• Assisting schools in providing an excellent education for those children who are typically underserved, particularly poor children and children of African descent.
• Developing initiatives to promote research and creative experiences that address critical issues of power and pedagogy in schools and communities, both locally and nationally.
• Supporting existing College of Education programs that are congruent with the mission of the Center.
  

The Reality We Face

Children and educators co-exist today in an environment that threatens our intellectual well-being. As more and more emphasis is placed on standardized tests like the FCAT, less and less attention appears to be directed to developing creative thinkers. Teachers are being “dumbed down” with mass-produced, programmed scripts, and children are asked to memorize countless facts with little meaning attached. We want The Center to be a force to counter the dehumanizing effects of these trends, and to bring the teacher’s thoughtful assessment of children’s work as well as the student’s excited and creative engagement back to the classroom.

See more at:

http://education.fiu.edu/urbaned/