2007-08 Florida PTA Legislative Program
Florida PTA's Position on the "Pell Grants for Kids
The National PTA, comprising millions of parents, teachers, students, and other child advocates, is firmly opposed to President Bush's proposal for "Pell Grants for Kids", a national voucher program that deprives public schools of critically needed taxpayer funds by diverting those funds to private schools with no taxpayer or educational accountability. Public funding for education needs to support and improve our nation's public schools.
In one breath, Mr. Bush called for the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), saying that we must "work together to increase accountability, add flexibility for states and districts, reduce the number of dropouts, provide extra help for struggling schools." In the next breath, Mr. Bush called for the diversion of $300 million dollars in taxpayer funds to support schools that are not accountable to the public, have no requirements for teacher quality, and show no evidence of improving student achievement. This seems contradictory, at best.
Florida PTA’s Position on Property Tax
The Florida PTA opposes SJR 4, the proposed state constitutional
amendment that will be on the special election ballot on Jan. 29,
2008, based on the following position. The Florida PTA supports amendments to the Florida Constitution
that enhance the ability of the state to fully fund services
to meet the needs of Florida’s children.
SJR 4 is the proposal on the ballot to
amend the state constitution to provide a "super exemption" to the
existing flat $25,000 homestead exemption and eventually phase
out Save Our Homes. It is projected that education will be cut by $7.2 billion over just five years
upon passage of this proposed constitutional amendment.
Florida PTA will be bringing you more in depth information on this
amendment during our convention in November.
The issues of interest to Florida PTA:
- ADEQUATE PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING
Florida PTA urges the Legislature to adequately fund public education. Funding for education should be at a minimum, 105% of the national average. All state mandates must be fully funded.
- ARTS IN EDUCATION/ESSENTIAL CURRICULA
Florida PTA recommends every school district place greater emphasis on
arts education and increase opportunities for student participation in the arts
incorporating the Florida Sunshine Standards approved by the State Board of
Education. The arts should be taught by individuals with specialized skills in
the arts, recognized professionals in their arts specialty, or by teachers
certified in their specific arts subject area and be aligned with the National
Standards (No Child Left Behind) and the Sunshine State Standards.
- ASSESSMENT AND TESTING
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.
- CLASS SIZE REDUCTION
Florida PTA urges the Legislature to phase in maximum class size standards
lower than those mandated by the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools (SACS) by the year 1999 and to establish class size standards for
Exceptional Student Education classes. And to further fully fund the capital,
personnel and operational cost necessary to decrease or maintain class sizes
under these levels.
National 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.
- DAILY RECESS
Florida PTA urges the school districts to require daily recess (defined as
supervised, active, unstructured play) with adequate equipment and adequate
supervision of at least 20 consecutive minutes for all elementary children.
- FLORIDA TAX STRUCTURE
Florida PTA urges the Legislature to increase tax revenue through tax
structure reform in order to adequately fund services necessary to meet the
educational, health, safety, recreational, and other basic needs of Florida’s
children. Florida PTA urges immediate reform of Florida’s system of sales
and use taxes. Exemptions for products and services should be retained only
where they meet an overriding public policy interest.
- GREEN SCHOOLS
Florida PTA recommends the adoption of incentive mechanisms encouraging
school districts to utilize Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) established guidelines in building and renovating schools and
encourages schools to adopt and employ green schools best practices.
- INDOOR AIR
Florida PTA urges the Legislature to require proactive evaluation of school
buildings for indoor air quality and to adopt measures to improve air quality.
- PREVENTION
Florida PTA urges the legislature to fully fund an array of coordinated and
integrated prevention services to help build strong families that raise their
children to be healthy, productive adults.
- TASER GUNS/STUN DEVICES
Florida PTA urges the Florida Legislature to authorize an independent study
on the effects of Taser guns/stun devices on the human body, especially
children, persons with disabilities and other vulnerabilities, provide a
mechanism for the training of officers based on research, and to set clearly
defined guidelines on the use of Taser guns/stun devices as means of
necessary force. The use of Taser guns/stun devices should be permissible
only in instances where lethal force would otherwise be necessary.
- TEACHER CERTIFICATION
Florida PTA supports the certification process for public school teachers be
no less stringent than exists in Florida Statute 1012.56 effective January 1,
2003.
- VOUCHERS
Florida PTA opposes education voucher proposals for public and non-public
preschool, elementary, and secondary school students.
- VOUCHER FUNDED SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY
While continuing to oppose vouchers in all forms, Florida PTA urges the
Legislature to impose strict eligibility requirements on private institutions and
non-public K-12 schools receiving public dollars through any state funded
voucher, grant or scholarship programs, and at a minimum, require them to
meet the same accountability standards at their cost as public schools.
To view these items in more detail, click on the following link:
http://floridapta.org//LegislativeProgram2007a.pdf
It is important for us as parents to review these issues and support the Florida PTA's position on them. This is the tool that we have to make a difference in our children's futures.
For a comprehensive list of all the Florida PTA position statements go to www.FloridaPTA.org and click on the Legislation tab.
State Senate:
District 12 |
FL House of Rep:
District 61 |
Congress:
District 5 |
Victor D. Crist
email
District Office:
11961 N. Florida Ave, #B
Tampa, FL 33612
813-975-6658 |
Will W. Weatherford
email
District Office:
38440 5th Avenue
Zephyrhills, FL 33542-4329
813-558-5115 |
Ginny Brown-Waite
email
Dade City Office:
15000 Citrus County Drive, #100
Dade City, FL 33523
352-567-6707 |