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Update #11
2010 Session of the Florida Legislature
Week 2 Committee
Meetings
Quick Summary
Tuesday, March 9,
2010
Senate
Education Pre-K – 12 Appropriation Committee
(10:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)
The Committee
heard several presentations and held a general discussion of the
funding issues affecting public schools. The Committee had not
received its revenue allocation at the time of the meeting; therefore
no specific funding actions were proposed or considered.
Presentations:
·
Overview of the
Governor’s School of Mathematics, Science and Space Technology
·
Overview of District
Funding Plans for Low Performing Schools
o
Nikolai Vitti, DOE,
Federal Funding for Struggling Schools
o
Scott Howat, Orange
County Public Schools, Evans High School Improvement Project
·
OPPAGA Overview of
Education Budget Reductions in Other States
Wednesday, March
10, 2010
House
Education PreK – 12 Policy Committee
(8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
The Committee took
action on three bills:
H55 GENERAL BILL/CS by PreK-12 Policy (EPC);
Reed; (CO-SPONSORS) Bullard; Schwartz; Steinberg; Taylor (Similar
S 0206)
District School Board Policies and Procedures; Provides
legislative intent to recognize student academic achievement; encourages each district school board to adopt policies & procedures that provide
for annual "Academic Scholarship Signing Day."
The bill passed
unanimously as a Committee Substitute
H623 GENERAL BILL/CS by PreK-12 Policy (EPC);
Burgin; (CO-SPONSORS) Nehr; Plakon; Rouson (Compare
H 1173,
S 1124,
S 2262) Instructional Materials for K-12 Public Education;
Includes computer hardware in definition of term "adequate instructional materials";
requires district school boards to provide technology as needed
for educational program; authorizes use of certain funds for purchase
of
computer hardware by district school boards; provides
restrictions.
The bill passed
as a Committee Substitute on a 12-2 vote. It would allow districts
to use that portion of the state instructional materials
appropriation not restricted to the purchase of state adopted
materials to purchase computer hardware. Most districts favor this
as increasing spending flexibility. Dissenters expressed concern
about the erosion of funds available to purchase instructional
content.
H1061 GENERAL BILL/CS by PreK-12 Policy (EPC);
Heller (Compare
S 0434)
Suicide Prevention Education; Requires that district
school boards provide access to suicide prevention educational resources to all
instructional & administrative personnel as part of school
district professional development system.
The bill passed
unanimously as a Committee Substitute.
Senate
Education Pre-K – 12 Committee
(1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.)
The Committee took
action on two bills:
S6 GENERAL
BILL/CS by Education Pre-K - 12; Thrasher; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Gaetz;
Detert; Wise; Constantine; Richter; Peaden; Storms (Linked
S 2740, Compare
H 7037)
Education Personnel [SPSC]; Authorizes release of child
abuse records to certain employees and agents of the Department of Education.
Specifies
the form of the public notice of proposed property taxes for
school districts instituting the district accountability millage
adjustment. Requires school districts to develop and implement end-of-course assessments. Repeals provisions relating to the Dale Hickham
Excellent Teaching Program, etc.
The bill passed as a Committee
Substitute on a 6-2 vote. The focal point of the legislation is the
creation of new systems for evaluating and compensating
instructional personnel and school level administrators. Student
learning gains as measured by results on end of course exams will be
the basis of the evaluation, or appraisal system as it will be
called. All things will flow from the learning gain results. The
changes are to be phased in so they will be fully operational by
2014-15. There is a penalty for districts who do not implement the
new systems. As of July 1, 2010, all new employees will be hired and
continue employment on an annual contract basis. A professional
service contract will no longer be an option for these employees. S4 GENERAL
BILL/CS by Education Pre-K - 12; Detert; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Thrasher;
Wise; Gaetz; Richter; Storms; Peaden; Fasano; Negron; Altman
(Compare
H 0061,
H 0473,
H 1173,
H 7037,
H 7053,
S 0120,
S 1154,
S 2262)
Education Accountability [SPSC]; Amends a provision
relating to secondary school redesign, to delete obsolete provisions and to
conform
to changes made by the act. Revises requirements for middle grades promotion. Provides that successful completion of a high school
level
Algebra I, Geometry, or Biology I course is not contingent upon a student's performance on the end-of-course assessment. Revises requirements for high school graduation. Creates the Credit
Acceleration Program.
The bill passed
as a Committee Substitute on a 6-2 vote. Added high school
graduation requirements will also include algebra II and chemistry
or physics with corresponding statewide end of course exams. The
course requirements and exams are scheduled to be phased in and
fully operational by 2014-15. Committee members expressed concern
for students who will be unable to master the added requirements.
The need for increased academic counseling at the middle school
level and the possibility of differentiated high school diplomas
were mentioned as topics for future discussions.
Senate Bills 4
and 6 appear to be on a fast track for passage in the Senate, with a
reference to the Policy & Steering Committee of Ways and Means as the
only stop remaining before they reach the Senate floor. Related House
bills have yet to be heard.
House
Education PreK – 12 Appropriations Committee
(3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.)
The Committee
heard a presentation by Superintendent Alberto Carvalho on
Efficiencies and Student Achievement in the Miami-Dade County Public
Schools.
Committee Chair
Anitere Flores explained that the Committee will begin next week to
make decisions on budget items, proviso language and conforming bill
contents.
Thursday, March
11, 2010
Senate
Education Pre-K – 12 Appropriation Committee
(9:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.)
The Committee
heard a presentation on KIPP schools. KIPP stands for the Knowledge is
Power Program, and KIPP schools are charter schools that focus on
education programs for students from low income areas. The
organization is planning to open the first of five Florida KIPP
schools in northwest Jacksonville next year.
Committee Chair
Steve Wise echoed Rep. Flores’ comments when he advised his Committee
members they will begin making budget, proviso and conforming bill
decisions next week.
Next Week
Senate
Education Pre-K – 12 Appropriation Committee, March 15
The Committee
plans to finalize:
·
Chairman’s budget
proposal
·
Proviso language
·
Conforming bill
·
Implementing bill
This will probably
be the Committee agenda for all three of the meetings it has scheduled
for Week 3.
Senate
Education Pre-K – 12 Committee, March 17
The Committee has
scheduled the following bills for consideration:
S206 GENERAL BILL by Hill (Similar CS/H 0055)
District School Board Policies and Procedures [SPSC];
Provides legislative intent to recognize student academic achievement.
Encourages
each district school board to adopt policies and procedures that
provide for an annual "Academic Scholarship Signing Day."
S434 GENERAL BILL by Sobel;
(CO-INTRODUCERS) Fasano; Storms (Compare CS/H 1061)
Suicide Prevention Education [SPSC]; Requires that
district school boards provide access to educational resources regarding suicide
prevention to all instructional and administrative personnel.
Provides for school personnel who choose to participate in suicide prevention
training to receive in-service credit hours. Requires that each
district school board determine the amount of such credit.
S896 GENERAL BILL by Peaden;
(CO-INTRODUCERS) Jones; Fasano; Sobel; Lawson; Detert; Storms
(Compare
H 0747)
Students with Diabetes [SPSC]; Requires the DOH to
develop guidelines, with the assistance of certain entities, for the training of
diabetes
personnel. Requires each district school board and the governing
body of each private and charter school to provide training to a minimum
number
of school employees. Prohibits a school district from restricting
the assignment of a student who has diabetes to a particular school
House
Committee notices
for the third week of the Session were not available at reporting
time.
Questions,
requests, comments and suggestions may be addressed to
mike@mixonandassociates.com
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