352-797-7270

Items to be Continued in Priority
 

These items have been adopted at earlier conventions and do not require further action. They are included for your information.  

Adequate Public Education Funding  

The Florida PTA urges the Legislature to reverse its recent trend and adequately fund public education. Adequate education funding must:

A.   position Florida ’s per pupil expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools at a minimum of 105% of the national average;

B.   guarantee full funding of the Statutory District Cost Differential (DCD);

C.   provide equity for local tax efforts in districts;

D.   fully fund all state mandates, e.g., transportation and E.S.O.L. training.

E.   must preclude using Florida ’s Education Enhancement Trust Fund (lottery dollars) for basic public education funding.

Florida Tax Structure  

The 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.  

The 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.  

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.

 Voucher Funded School Accountability

While continuing to oppose vouchers in all forms, that Florida PTA urges the Legislature to impose strict eligibility requirements on private institutions and nonpublic 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, including, but not limited to:

1)   School wide participation in any statewide assessment program, by mandating all current standardized tests, i.e., FCAT and Florida Writes;

2)   Assignment of an annual school performance grade category designation and improvement rating, to be published in the Commissioner of Education’s annual statewide assessment report;

3)   Compliance with Florida Public Records Laws and requirement for independent audits to assess how taxpayer money is being spent.

4)   Regulations to ensure private institutions and nonpublic schools are adequately equipped to meet the educational needs of their students.

 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.  As follows:  the applicant must document receipt of a bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited institution of higher learning, or a non-accredited institution of higher learning that the Department of Education has identified as having a quality program resulting in a bachelor’s degree, or higher.  Each applicant seeking initial certification must have attained at least a 2.5 overall grade point average on a  4.0 scale in the applicant’s major field of study.  Further, each applicant must:

• Be of good moral character
• Be competent and capable of performing the duties, functions, and responsibilities of an educator.
• Demonstrate a mastery of general knowledge
• Demonstrate a mastery of subject area knowledge
• Demonstrate a mastery of professional preparation and education competence.

That the process for alternative teacher certification be no less rigorous than that for traditional teacher certification.

 Early Childhood Education: 

Readiness to Start School

 Florida PTA urges the Legislature to ensure that early child care and education programs are safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate by establishing licensing requirements based on statewide standards that reflect current research.  These programs should be affordable, available and accessible with assistance for parents with inadequate income.

Florida PTA opposes using a standardized testing tool as the basis for major decisions regarding early childhood placement or progress, or to deny entry to public education.

The Florida PTA urges its PTAs and county councils to work within their communities to make available to parents the materials, resources, and education needed to foster optimal early childhood development.

Graduation Credit Requirements  

The Florida PTA asks that the Legislature require a minimum of 24 credits for high school graduation.

 Indoor Air

 The Florida PTA urges the Legislature to require proactive evaluation of school buildings for indoor air quality and to adopt measures to improve air quality, including raising the minimum ventilation rate to 15 cubic feet per minute (cfm) of outside air per occupant.  PTA local units are urged to educate communities about the causes of Indoor Air Quality problems and about action that must be taken or avoided to prevent a recurrence of the problems.  

Parental Choice of Public Schools  

The Florida PTA urges the Legislature to provide state funds only to publicly operated and tax-supported schools, thus preserving the concept of public education. Any proposal for public school choice must:  

1)   provide funding for transportation;

2)   be based on equal access and equal educational opportunities for all students;

3)   provide clear information to all parents; and

4)   provide increased opportunity for parental involvement in the education of their children.  

 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.

Class Size Reduction  

The 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) and to establish class size standards for Exceptional Student Education classes.  

The Florida PTA urges the Legislature to fully fund the capital, personnel and operational cost necessary to decrease or maintain class sizes under these levels.  

Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO)

 Florida PTA urges the Legislature to increase the rate and expand the application of the Gross Receipts Utilities Tax, and also identify additional revenue sources to adequately and equitable fund the capital outlay needs of Florida public schools to be applied and designated for the sole purpose of providing additional revenue and not as a replacement for existing revenues.