As Miami-Dade County families begin planning for summer, the Summer Youth Internship Program (SYIP) is preparing to welcome students for its 11th year of helping teenagers gain real-world experience while earning income and academic credit.

The five-week program, managed by the Department of Career and Technical Education at Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), connects high school students entering grades 10 through 12 with paid internships across the community. SYIP is jointly funded by The Children’s Trust, Miami-Dade County, CareerSource South Florida, the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, Educational Federal Credit Union (EdFed), and the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Foundation.

For parents, the program offers a structured way for teens to spend part of their summer building independence, workplace skills, and confidence in professional environments. Students complete approximately 150 hours of work while earning high school honors credit, and some participants also qualify for dual-enrollment college credit.

The program continues to grow. During summer 2025, as the program celebrated its 10th anniversary, a record 3,661 students from 92 high schools participated, collectively working more than half a million hours at 924 companies and organizations throughout Miami-Dade County. Participation included students from 29 charter high schools, reflecting the program’s expanding reach. Over the past decade, more than 18,500 students have taken part, with many returning for multiple summers.

SYIP leaders say the program’s impact goes beyond job experience. Students apply for positions, prepare résumés, complete interviews, and learn workplace expectations before their internships begin. Teachers monitor students’ progress throughout the summer, helping ensure both professional growth and academic success. Participants are paid through direct deposit after opening an EdFed savings account, which introduces them to basic financial literacy skills.

The program is also designed with accessibility in mind. About 60 percent of participants qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and students with disabilities and youth connected to Miami-Dade County’s Juvenile Services Department receive additional support to participate. Organizers say this inclusive approach helps ensure that career exploration opportunities reach students who might otherwise miss out.

Past participants describe the experience as transformative

One student who interned with a local youth-services organization discovered a passion for public service after learning how nonprofit programs operate behind the scenes.

Another student interested in television production gained hands-on experience working with a public safety agency’s communications team, producing videos, assisting with social media outreach, and receiving mentorship from an experienced broadcast professional. Experiences like these, program leaders say, help students connect classroom learning to future career paths.

Employers also benefit by mentoring young people while introducing them to potential career fields. Survey results from last summer show strong satisfaction rates among students, employers, and teachers, underscoring the program’s value for both families and the broader community.

With the support of its public-private partnerships, SYIP continues to expand opportunities for Miami-Dade youth. Program leaders say their long-term goal is to ensure students graduate high school not only academically prepared but also equipped with practical workplace skills and a clearer sense of direction.

For parents looking to help their teenagers make productive use of the summer months, SYIP offers something increasingly important: a first step into the professional world in a supportive, supervised environment. As the program enters its second decade, it continues to demonstrate how early work experience can shape students’ confidence, career interests, and future success.

For more information or for your child to sign up to SYIP visit Miami.GetmyInterns.org