Take Action Florida Senate Bill 376 Regarding Charter Schools – March 4 update.
We are less than a week away from the start of the Legislative Session. The following is a synopsis of what happened in Tallahassee last week:
HB78- Recess Bill – the bill passed unanimously through the Senate Education Committee. The next committee of reference is the Appropriations Subcommittee on Pre-K-12 Education. Florida PTA participated in a press conference along with Senator Flores and Representative Plasencia discussing the importance of recess for elementary students.
HB 7027 – began as a committee bill and is a memorial urging the Federal Government to establish block grants for Title 1 and IDEA funding. The block grant would give control to the state on how to disperse these funds. It passed through committee. This bill is just a memorial and does not change any statutory language.
SB 376 – Charter School Funding – Authorizing school boards to levy specified amounts for charter schools; providing that charter school capital outlay funding consists of shared local capital outlay and state funding as provided in the General Appropriations Act; prohibiting a charter school from being eligible for a funding allocation under certain circumstances. This bill will require school districts to share local capital outlay dollars with charter schools. Currently, charter schools receive $75 million PECO dollars for their capital needs. It passed through the Education Committee.
SB604 – Education Funding – Revising the amount each school board may levy for certain purposes; revising the purposes for which a school district may levy additional millage by specified means to include fixed capital outlay. Senator Farmer filed an amendment which would allow school districts to levy up to a 2.25 millage rate. The amendment was adopted but the bill was temporarily postponed to amend this language into SB376.
SB1334 – Universal background checks – this bill will close the gun show loop hole and require that any person purchasing a gun from a private seller be subjected to a background check and the 3-day mandatory waiting period. This a Florida PTA priority and we will be participating in a press conference next week asking Florida Legislature for their support of this bill.
Federal bills:
We have received a few emails regarding H.R. 610, also called the “Choices in Education Act of 2017”, which would repeal every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and replace it with block grants for states to use for a voucher system. The bill also repeals a rule issued by the Department of Agriculture which would roll back school nutrition standards in schools if passed.
National PTA is monitoring the bill and will issue a statement if the bill moves forward.

National PTA urges its members at all levels to monitor, support, and advocate for laws and programs in the following areas: child safety, juvenile justice, gun safety, violence prevention, and, mental health programs and services.
Contact Information: Ms. Cindy Gerhardt, President, president@floridapta.org,407-855-7604, FAX 407-240-9577, www.floridapta.org September 14, 2016 PTA is the oldest and largest child advocacy group in the nation. PTA’s mission is to make every child’s potential a reality, by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children. “All children” includes those who are displaced, are in foster care or who find themselves in the Juvenile Justice system.
PTA has long advocated for policies that would protect the rights of children and youth who come into contact with the Juvenile Justice System. Beginning in 1899, PTA was one of the first associations to encourage federal and state lawmakers to create a safe and rehabilitative justice system for children by establishing separate courts and probation systems from those serving adults. Today, PTA continues to support programs that work to prevent juvenile delinquency and provide youth currently in the system with services to help them become productive members of society.
PTA also monitors, supports, and advocates for laws and programs that:
As has been a priority for more than one hundred years, PTA remains deeply committed to working with decision makers to advocate for safe and supportive juvenile justice systems that help every child reach his or her full potential.
It makes sound sense that we provide a better option and outcome for youth who commit misdemeanor offenses and who have the ability and desire to rehabilitate. Arrest should not be the first answer; incarceration should be a last resort. This data clearly shows that the use of civil citations increases public safety, saves taxpayer money, and improves youth outcomes. The data is startling and statistics clearly show that not only is this a logical option for communities, but offers a cost savings over incarceration that can free up more revenue for education. What district and school could not benefit from more resources to get ahead of these issues and find means of prevention, rather than be reactive to the problem with an answer that promotes recidivism among our youth? The ability to issue civil citations, evaluate a child’s living environment and offer service to the community is by far a more valuable investment in our children and will benefit our state long term. This program promotes public safety and its success will rely on participation throughout the state.
Florida PTA is proud to support this important study and we will continue to work to bring awareness to the use of civil citations instead of arresting thousands of youth across the state of Florida. We will remain committed to finding and promoting better ways to keep communities safer, families stronger and children protected.
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For more information, please contact info@floridapta.org or call 407-855-7604.
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Florida PTA comprises hundreds of thousands of families, students, teachers, administrators and business and community leaders devoted to improving the lives of children/youth in our state. PTA is the oldest and largest child advocacy association in the state of Florida, as well as the nation. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children. More information is available by contacting Florida PTA (407/855-7604 or executive.director@floridapta.org).
For more information visit our website www.floridapta.org and/or our Facebook page for programs available in your community.
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Advocacy Improves the Lives of Children
Federal law requires equal opportunities for all children. But with only 3 of the federal budget dedicated to education, the reality is that too many students go without.
PTA is committed to ensuring that parents have a seat at the table whenever decisions are made that impact our children-at local school boards, in local and state government and in the halls of Congress. PTA fights for your child and every child.
There is power in our voices.
Links to organizations that are related to education in government. DCCPTA provides these resources to give you different political points of view and does not necessarily support or endorse there opinions.
Subject: NDSC/NDSS Action Alert: Submit Comments on ESSA
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Feb 18, 2014
Read the article from State Impact Florida and NPR HERE.
March 9, 2015
Following are the front and back side of a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) sheet handed out at an FSA information session for parents at a DCPS elementary school. These are common questions parents of students in any grade might have; if you have additional questions specific to your student’s grade or subject, please contact your school.
January 13, 2015
This article explores options to replace our current “high stakes” tests.
November 7, 2014
On November 4, 2014 Dr. Vitti distributed to principals a 10-page presentation outlining the differences between how the old Sunshine State Standards were tested using the FCAT and how the new Florida State Standards (Florida’s version of the Common Core Standards) will be tested with the new AIR assessments in the Spring.
The presentation also includes before and after test data from Kentucky (the whole state); Jefferson County, KY; New York State and New York City. There were dramatic declines in all grades and subjects in all 4 geographic areas.
Dr. Vitti asked Principals to make their parents aware of this data, but NOT to panic about how our students are going to do. His opinion was also that the New York standards and tests were slightly more rigorous overall than Florida’s and that Kentucky’s were overall a little less rigorous – so hopefully our students will fall somewhere between the two.
It’s important to know also that we still have no idea what Florida’s tests are going to look like, AND that Florida’s tests are not going to look like any other state’s in the country since Florida chose AIR to produce our tests instead of the PARCC or Smarter Balanced tests 39 other states are using.
Jacksonville_dot_com article on AIR tests
October 8, 2014
Florida PTA Requests Changes Sept 17 2014 FLPTA requests delay in school grades for one year.
Duval County School Board Resolution on Transition Year – requesting FL DOE delay school grades for one year. (Adopted Tuesday, October 7, 2014)
The Common Core State Standards Initiative was a multi-state-led effort to develop consistent, real-world learning goals to ensure all students, regardless of where they live, graduate high school prepared for college, career, and life. The standards do not dictate curriculum. Curricula is left to states, school districts and teachers to determine HOW the standards will be taught.
Each state decided how best to implement the blueprint of the standards in their state. The Florida Department of Education announced in January 2014 that Florida’s version of the Common Core Standards will be known as The Florida State Standards. These standards REPLACE the Sunshine State Standards AND the FCAT. Implementation of the Common Core Standards in all grades in Duval County schools is now complete for the 2014-15 school year.
National PTA has developed guides to help parents understand how these standards will affect their student. Parents’ Guides to Student Success
PTA’s Position Statement on High Stakes Testing
ASSESSMENT AND TESTING (2006) National PTA believes that valid assessment does not consist of only a single test
score, and that at no time should a single test be considered the sole determinant of a student’s academic or work
future.
Handouts and flyers you can use to educate your school’s parents:
Jacksonville Public Education Fund
CCSS Handout (developed by DCCPTA)
These are websites that provide background on the origins of Common Core, Frequently Asked Questions, and additional resources for parents:
DCCPTA’s own website has Common Core information: http://www.dccpta.org/advocacy/
National PTA’s webpage with links to Common Core information for each state.
August 20, 2014
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Watch “Raising the Bar: Implications on Test Scores” a short video of school administrators and teachers discuss how common Core helps to improve a student’s college and career readiness.National PTA recently released a Common Core video series to educate parents on the standards and empower them to support the transition at school and home.The series features 14 videos—developed in partnership with the Hunt Institute—to dispel the myths and provide accurate information about Common Core.Watch the series at PTA.org/CCSSVideos.For more info, visit our Common Core website or contact Chrystal Jones. |
The Common Core FAQ, National Public Radio May 27, 2014
State Impact Florida’s “Essential Guide to Common Core”
The State of Florida’s official source for standards information, course descriptions and standards resources is CPALMS. (CPALMS is an online toolbox of information, vetted resources, and interactive tools that helps educators effectively implement teaching standards.)Florida Standards Assessment website – Resources for Parents and Students
Following are recent articles about Common Core and the implementation of the standards here in Florida.
PDK/Gallup Poll Finds Rising Awareness, Majority Opposition to Common Core August 20, 2014
Bush: Florida Standards “Not Substantially Different” From Common Core August 15, 2014
Despite All The Conspiracy Theories, Common Core Is Actually Just Boring August 14, 2014
Crist Wants To Pause Penalties During Switch To Common Core-Based Standards August 7, 2014
What We Learned This Year Watching Schools Prepare For Florida’s New Standards July 10, 2014
Read the Federal Plan to Expand Wireless Internet Access at Schools (and Libraries) July 10, 2014
More Common Core Silliness June 11, 2014
What A Florida Middle School Has Learned So Far Teaching Common Core Standards March 10, 2014.
Everything you need to know about Common Core – Ravitch Washington Post, January 18, 2014
Five myths about the Common Core December 13, 2013
National PTA’s Diversity and Inclusion Policy:
NPTA_Diversity_and_Inclusion_Policy
Click HERE to connect to Florida PTA’s CURRENT Position Statements on a variety of issues from High Stakes Testing to Class Size to Arts in Education.
Click HERE to connect to Florida PTA’s HISTORICAL Position Statements.