Florida PTA
everychild:onevoice
 Legislative Alert
 
SB 2126 - Relating to Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program
 
 
SB 2126 the tax credits/voucher bill is scheduled for a vote by the full senate on Tuesday, March 23
Florida PTA Position
 
PTA opposes all education voucher and tax credit proposals for public and non-public preschool, elementary and secondary school students.
 
Talking Points

    * Vouchers divert money from public schools, which are accountable to the public, to private schools, where there is no public oversight of how the dollars are spent, while doing nothing to improve public education
    * There is no strong evidence that voucher programs improve student achievement.
    * Vouchers, which divert public dollars to private schools, do nothing to raise academic standards for all children, provide safe learning environments, improve teacher quality or increase parent involvement in public schools
    * Proposals to expand the Florida Corporate Scholarship Program ultimately take revenue away from school districts. These programs have no accountability components and should not be expanded until: more funding is available for all public education programs and accountability measures are required for private programs receiving state funds.
    * State economists estimate that the expansion would cost $31 million in 2010 and would grow to $65 million in 2011 and $107.8 million in 2012.
    * These funds are recurring, a guarantee that is not given to public education.

Florida PTA
everychild:onevoice
 
Class Size Alert
SB 2
 
SB 02 the proposed amendment to amend the current class size amendment is scheduled for a vote on the senate floor Tuesday.  This amendment proposes to calculate class size on a school wide average rather than actual class size.
 
PTA Position
 
PTA supports class size reduction proposals that consider actual class size, meaning the number of students in a teacher's room for whom that teacher is accountable, rather than pupil/teacher ratios, which do not accurately reflect teachers' contacts with children. The Florida PTA urges the legislature to fully fund the capital, personnel and operational cost necessary to decrease or maintain class sizes under the mandated levels.
 
Please write to your senators asking them to vote no on this bill.
 Talking Points

   
      * We recognize the budgetary constraints surrounding the implementation of the class size amendment. We also however, recognize the importance of smaller classes in the successful education of all children.
   
      * In order to meet the needs of Florida's students without over burdening the system, we recommend that flexibility in implementing the class size amendment can be provided by amending the statute implementing the amendment, without revoking the will of the people via a constitutional amendment.

      * The Florida Supreme Court in an Advisory Opinion to the Florida Attorney General on April 25, 2002, stated the following regarding the class size amendment:

 "the Legislature may choose to fund the building of new schools to achieve the maximum classroom size set as a goal of the proposed amendment, this is not the only method of ensuring that the number of students meets the numbers set forth in the amendment. Rather than restricting the Legislature, the proposed amendment gives the Legislature latitude in designing ways to reach the class size goal articulated in the ballot initiative, and places the obligation to ensure compliance on the Legislature, not the local school boards."
http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/flsupct/sc01-2421/01-2421rep.pdf
 
 

    * Schools need relief prior to the start of the school year in 2010 and this measure will not be put to the test before November 2010. If this measure fails at the ballot box, we are left without any recourse or solutions by which to help our schools with the resources they need.
   
    *We urge you to look at amending the current law that imposes financial and other penalties for non compliance, providing immediate and definite relief to school districts at the start of the new school year.
   
    *These penalties were put in place by the Florida Legislature and can be amended much faster and with much more ease than depending on getting a 60% majority vote of the people, well into the 2010 school year and putting districts at risk for penalties and other financial burdens.
Florida PTA
everychild:onevoice
 
Legislative Alert
 
HB 7189
 
HB 7189 has been placed on the House Special Order Calendar for tomorrow Wednesday, April 7, 2010.  Please email your representatives today.
PTA POSITION
 
PTA supports higher standards, accountability and systemic reform efforts for both teachers and students. The existence of a strong, effective system of free public education for all children is essential to our democratic system of government. 
 
We believe all students benefit from and should have access to high-quality teachers. PTA does not have a specific position on how teacher salaries are determined. However many of the provisions in HB 7189 and its companion SB 6 are of concern to us, because of the effect they may have on our students. Some of these concerns are outlined below:
 
    * The expense to the district of developing new tests
    * The burden placed on students with these additional standardized tests
    * District development of tests will lead to students being assessed differently in each county and may result in inequities in educational programs
    * Will good teachers teach in low performing schools where they are needed the most, if the students don't make sufficient gains?
    * Will our best and brightest new teachers want to teach in Florida?
    * The Senate and House staff analysis clearly states that the fiscal impact of this bill is indeterminate, but outlines several expenses that will be incurred as a result of this legislation
    * In a year where there is little money for education, this places a higher financial burden on school districts
 
Message
 
Please email your Representatives and let them know that we support accountability and higher standards for educators, but also express your concerns about the provisions outlined above and its possible impact on the students of Florida. Ask them to Vote NO until parents, students and educators are included in the effort to draft a bill that would bring real reform and excellence in teaching to our public schools.