This legislative season has been filled with a lot of activity and sometimes it can be difficult to keep up. We want to help highlight some key areas of importance. With the state legislation session quickly coming to a close, we want to highlight some bills that could use your advocacy in keeping with the PTA’s support of educational environments that are inclusive and effective for all students. Bill to advocate against HB 1069 (Education)/SB 1320 (Child Protection in Public Schools) Likely to be considered in the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee on 4/13 This is the extension of “Don’t Say Gay” until grade 8, with additional provisions to have the state, not districts, approve sex ed curriculum and instructional materials,
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DCCPTA is always looking for ways to educate its members and provide opportunities to advocate for all children. In the past couple of days, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey and its administration have been in the news. Below are some facts for you to review and who you may contact to advocate on this topic. Duval County Public School (DCPS) has received a grant from the CDC – Division of Adolescent School Health (DASH) for approximately the past 10 years. The first five-year grant was awarded in 2013, then the district reapplied and was awarded a second five-year grant. This year, the CDC has agreed to extend the grant for a sixth year, if a request for an extension is
READ MORE →Duval County Council of PTA’s, in alignment with both National PTA and Florida PTA positions, supports diverse and inclusive curricula, classroom materials, as well as professional development. We support well-rounded and varied experiences and ideas being shared and accessible by all students. This leads to higher academic and personal achievements as well as overall well-being at all levels. One of the hallmarks of a free and democratic society is the freedom to exchange ideas. Free, democratic, well-rounded individuals learn to interact with all types of information and can think for themselves. Public schools are another hallmark of a free and democratic society. Public schools are to serve all community members. They should also represent all who attend and contribute to
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DCCPTA has been working with the school board over the summer concerning the dress code and enforcement. Please contact the following people if your child is dress coded inappropriately (please copy advocacy@dccpta.org or diversity@dccpta.org). This will allow data to be taken which will be necessary for us to advocate for change. DCPS Student Discipline: Mr. Byron Copeland: copelandb@duvalschools.org Mr. Jackie Simmons: simmonsj@duvalschools.org Elementary: Ms. Marianne Simon: simonm@duvalschools.org Mr. Randall Strickland: stricklandr@duvalschools.org Middle School: Dr. Denise Hall: halld@duvalschools.org High School: Mr. Timothy Simmons: simmonst@duvalschools.org
READ MORE →Resolution Background As many of you may remember, the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Advocacy Committees worked on drafting a dress code resolution last school year. The resolution was first approved by our DCCPTA Board and then it was shared with our local chapters for them to vote on and the resolution was approved with a majority vote across our local DCPS PTA/PTSA’s. The next step in the process was to then share our resolution with the DCPS school board for their consideration, which we did at the end of last school year. To clear up some confusion, our DCCPTA resolutions are not binding with DCPS nor the school board. It is simply an advocacy tool that we can use
READ MORE →This group of links provides a wide range of information related to national and Florida education and youth legislation. This information can be used to keep up with the rapidly changing legislation. Please keep informed and present your views to your legislators. Link to: The Legislative Priorities Brochure http://floridapta.org/advocacy/legislation/advocacy-tool-kit?task=document.viewdoc&id=2431 Stepping Up: Florida’s Top Juvenile Civil Citation Efforts 2016 http://floridapta.org/component/edocman/?task=document.viewdoc&id=2424&Itemid=0 FSBA – Florida School Board Association http://fsba.org/ Register for Voter Voice Legislative Alerts http://floridapta.org/advocacy/advocacy/capwiz-legislative-alerts National PTA Advocacy page for Federal Updates http://www.pta.org/advocacy/ Florida Department of Juvenile Justice “Roadmap to System Excellence” Reports http://www.djj.state.fl.us/roadmap-to-system-excellence Florida Children’s Council http://flchildrenscouncil.org/ Celita Wilson leadership@dccpta.org
READ MORE →This group of documents provides information related to Florida education legislation. This information can be used to support your views when contacting your legislators.
READ MORE →Florida PTA would like to commend Governor Rick Scott for his foresight in requesting significant increases to education funding for the 2017-2018 fiscal year.
READ MORE →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
READ MORE →DCCPTA’s Fall Leadership Workshops will be held September ??, 2016 from 8:30 am – 1:00 pm. Sample DCCPTA invites to Winter Leadership Training Workshops and ESE Fair Advocacy Advocacy – Chair Taking Action Through the Legislative Process 2014 Awards DCCPTA Award Info 2014-2015 Local Unit Awards Tips 2014 History Book Info & Award Form Fall 2013 Business Partners Business Partners – DCC PTA class Fall 2015 Communication Communication – Chair Public Speaking Workshop January 2016 PTA Computer & Communication Tips January 2016 PTA Photo Communication Tips January 2016 Social Media Tips Creating Effective Newsletters Fall 2014 Marla Bryant Presentation on Facebook Communications Fall 2014 Executive Board Your Executive Board Playing by the rules Sept 2014 Your Executive Board Playing by the rules
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