LWVeducation
Everyone wants more money for education this year, but where will it come from? Governor Scott’s plan includes $507 million more, but 85% comes from local property taxes. The House plan calls for $601 million with 84% from local property taxes. The Senate plan has a larger increase $650 million, and for now a similar percentage for local effort. Senator Gaetz, however, will roll out alternative funding formulas that could increase the state share.
Florida and Arizona are the big school choice states. Nationally, most (86%) of children attend traditional public schools. In Florida, about 80% of school age children attend public schools. Not surprising is the fact that both states are near the bottom in public school funding. Somehow choice is marketed as a way to improve educational opportunity, but the reality is different. Choice is cheaper but not better. A summary of the National School Board report follows. The full report can be accessed here.
|
|||
|
|||
|
by Judy Palay, Collier County
Is it OK to read Harry Potter in school? Collier County has a fight on its school board over the review of instructional materials in schools. Parents on both sides have organized.
There is a bill in the legislature that removes district control of instructional materials. Judy Palay reports on the conflict and the reasons why many parents oppose SB 1018/HB 899 and others support it.
Representative Caldwell and Senator Brandes are looking for feedback. Their bill HJR 530 would allow cities to withdraw from county school districts and form their own district. Of course, cities have the revenue. Thus, the remainder of the counties would be strapped for cash. There is criticism about the proposal even among other Republican party members. The bill, if passed, would become a constitutional amendment.
Since the legislators have asked for feedback, we should provide some.
Send your thoughts to:
Last week the Alachua County school board faced some harsh realities. The teacher shortage has hit home. We now have long term substitutes for positions we cannot fill. Board members attended the Rally in Tally to support our schools and teachers. They announced that 4,000 people were there.
Perhaps the most hopeful moment at the board meeting came when a parent, Kanh-Lien Banko spoke.
This session the legislature has bills ranging from accountability to discipline and sex, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. The State LWV Florida sent out a helpful list of education bills that will be heard in committee tomorrow. The Tallahassee Democrat overview is helpful to understand the legislative priorities.
Legislation
HJR 759 would change the constitution to allow the Department of Education to establish a statewide system for approving charter schools. Currently, school districts authorize charter schools and the State Board of Education can over rule school board decisions.
The constitution requires a unified system of public schools. This amendment would lead to separate systems which then are subject to different funding streams and laws. It takes away control from local school boards.
WE MUST OPPOSE THIS BILL VIGOROUSLY. IT IS FILED BY MANNY DIAZ FROM MIAMI.
A Gainesville parent with four children teamed up with a granddad who is a retired teacher. They are spreading the word by organizing PTA and School Advisory Council meetings across the city. Their campaign is to support the Citizen for Strong Schools lawsuit.
The lawsuit comes to trial in Tallahassee in March 2016. The suit contends that Florida is shortchanging our children. We are the third largest state with next to the bottom level of support for our schools.
They are passionate about public schools. Read Rik’s article in the Gainesville Sun this week. It is called: Ensure Florida Adequately Funds Education.
There is now a website called Five for Change . It has lots of information. http://www.5forchange.org/ . They are asking for a five dollar donation to support the lawsuit. Think what could happen if a thousand people sent in a donation. What a boost in morale it could be. You can be counted. Your organizations can be recognized on the webpage.
Florida League President, Pam Goodman endorses the campaign. You can too where ever you live. The suit helps all schools in Florida!
They are holding meetings all over the county. Everyone interested in supporting public education is welcome. The first one was at Eastside high school. The next ones are in the media rooms at 6:30 pm on:
January 21st: Santa Fe High School
January 26th: Gainesville High
February 2nd: Hawthorne High
February 9th: Buchholz High
February 11th: Newberry High
Close to 3,000 public school supporters turned out for the Florida Education Association rally today. It was their largest crowd ever. They were determined to let the legislators know that public schools need support. I was there. I jotted down some slogans.
Here is one that made the crowd cheer:
EDUCATE, ADVOCATE, MOTIVATE!
Another speaker chanted his opposition to the current policy. He called the policy the:
STACK THEM DEEP, TEACH THEM CHEAP approach to education funding.
There were lots of signs. Here are two:
The message was clear. Over and over the crowd chanted: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Equity means providing resources, not just equally, but adequately for all children to succeed. There is no ‘one size fits all’ curriculum. Yet, there is a tension between providing opportunity for all students, regardless of their backgrounds, and the efficient allocation of limited resources. School choice was supposed to give better options, but too often, the choices are no different and ineffective.
The Citizens for Strong Schools lawsuit in Florida is about equity, but this is also a national issue. I found a blue ribbon panel report that addresses equity and provides direction for educational policy.
In time, Florida may be required to focus on these six directions. They give us a vision of what could be.
