C.O.P.E. means Continuing Opportunities for Purposeful Education. The program is designed to provide uninterrupted learning opportunities for pregnant teens or parents who volunteer to attend one of two centers in Dade County. These pregnant teens/parents benefit from delivery of special health education, academic requirements course study, vocational counseling/training and parenting.

Teen parents or expectant parents who reside in the area from Flagler Street to the Broward County line are eligible for admission to C.O.P.E. Center North on a case by case basis. Attendance records and disciplinary incidents are reviewed prior to admittance. This is a voluntary not a disciplinary school.

A student is considered for admission to C.O.P.E. Center North when a referral is initiated, the pregnancy is confirmed, and an application is made in accordance with the following established criteria:

• Medical confirmation of pregnancy obtained/signed by a physician.
• Orientation meeting with student and parent/guardian.
• Agreement form and authorization for placement is signed by the parent or authorized agent.
  
  

The State of Florida provides funding to care for infants and toddlers of students enrolled in public school. C.O.P.E. operates a Nurturing Center as a result of this funding. The center is a full service childcare facility. It provides nurturing, infant stimulation and an innovative development curriculum, "Just Using Senses to Cope.....JUST COPE", is the program used for children between the ages of four weeks and three years of age. It concentrates on brain development.

The curriculum offered at C.O.P.E. North is well-structured. Students are offered a balanced curriculum designed to meet the requirements for graduation from a Miami Dade County Public School. However, in some cases we are unable to offer a wide range of electives and may be limited in some course offerings. Our unique location puts us in an educational hub in close proximity to the William H. Turner Vocational Technical Center and Miami Central Senior High. Our educational goal is to provide an uninterrupted learning period for the teenaged expectant parent and/or parent and assist them in making educational progress toward graduation and/or post secondary training/education.

While enrolled a C.O.P.E. Center North, all students are taught parenting skills and attend weekly health education classed where they receive instruction in personal hygiene, nutrition, family planning, disease prevention, and many other
topics which are vitally important. The student services staff coordinates these services along with other community resources such as Healthy Start.

C.O.P.E. Center North also facilitates a two-year Health Occupations Preparatory Education (H.O.P.E.) program for eleventh and twelfth grade students. H.O.P.E. has been uniquely designed to meet the needs of students who desire a career in the allied health field.