FSCA Legislative News

Joint Study on School Crime and Safety

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 22:55:00 +0000

PRESS RELEASES
Statement by Attorney General Eric Holder and Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Joint Study on School Crime and Safety

FOR RELEASE:
December 10, 2009

Contact: Press Office, Education Department
(202) 401-1576
press@ed.gov

Office of Public Affairs
United States Department of Justice
(202) 514-2007
www.justice.gov
TDD (202) 514-1888

"The study released today shines a light on a problem too often in the dark—youth violence. Schools should be safe havens where young people can learn and prosper, and anything less than that is unacceptable. We've met with students affected by the fatal beating of Derrion Albert in Chicago and brought teens struggling with the issue of dating violence here to Washington. Through these conversations, research like the study released today, and an intense focus on vital policy issues, we are gathering the tools necessary to address this problem effectively. In the coming year, the Departments of Education and Justice will work side-by-side with our local and community partners, bringing all of our combined resources to bear, to help stem the tide of youth violence.

"Eradicating youth violence is a priority of this administration and a priority of both these agencies. As cabinet officials, as concerned citizens and most importantly, as fathers, we are committed to continuing our work to eliminate youth violence."

The study can be found at http://nces.ed.gov/programs/crimeindicators/crimeindicators2009/

http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/12/12102009b.html

Florida to ask U.S. for up to $1 billion for schools

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:41:00 +0000

Florida to ask U.S. for up to $1 billion for schools

BY HANNAH SAMPSON

hsampson@MiamiHerald.com

A couple hundred million ain't bad, but why not go for a billion?

Florida Education Commissioner Eric Smith on Wednesday said it looks like the state could end up asking the federal government for $1 billion in grant money earmarked for education.

``We are excited by what this means to the state, what it means to our children and what it means to our educators,'' Smith said in a call with reporters.

That amount would be nearly a quarter of the entire budget for Race to the Top, a $4.35 billion initiative that seeks to solve some of the most persistent problems in education by pouring money into innovative reforms.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/broward/breaking-news/story/1340731.html

S. 729: Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2009 (GovTrack.us)

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:02:00 +0000

A bill to amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to permit States to determine State residency for higher education purposes and to authorize the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status of certain alien students who are long-term United States residents and who entered the United States as children, and for other purposes.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-729

Legislative Affairs - American School Counselor Association

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:47:00 +0000

ACTION ALERT:

Urge Members of the Senate to Sign Sen. Feingold's Letter Requesting Funding for the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program (ESSCP)

ASCA has been working closely with Sen. Russ Feingold's (D-Wis.) staff to, once again, distribute a "Dear Colleague" letter to all the members of the Senate urging his colleagues to sign a letter requesting the Senate Appropriations Committee to provide increased funding for the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling program in fiscal year (FY) 2010. By funding ESSCP at an increased level, monies will be made available to both elementary and secondary schools to provide comprehensive school counseling services. This is due to ESSCP's statuary funding trigger; secondary schools (i.e., middle and high) are not eligible to participate in the program until total funding exceeds $40 million.

In fiscal year 2009, Congress appropriated $52 million for ESSCP. This program has slowly but steadily been climbing and has surpassed that funding trigger for two years now. It is imperative that we keep this momentum going as more school budgets are being cut and more school counseling positions are becoming eliminated. Therefore, it is critical to show congressional support for ESSCP by having as many senators as possible sign the Feingold letter.

ACTION NEEDED
Call, write or e-mail both of your senators and urge them to show support for ESSCP by signing onto the Feingold Dear Colleague Letter, which requests the Senate Appropriations Committee provide increased funding for this essential program in fiscal year 2010. You can call your senator by calling the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121.If you do not know who your senators are, or you would like to find the direct line to the appropriate office, you can locate that information on the Web. If you would like to e-mail your senators but are unable to locate the appropriate addresses please e-mail Amanda Fitzgerald at ASCA and include your name and the state in which you reside and the state in which you are employed (if different).

What should you say? Tell your senators your name and where you are from; you may be asked for your name and number. As a constituent, your call is important to your senator's office. Ask to speak with the education legislative assistant because you want the senator to sign on to the Dear Colleague letter being circulated by Sen. Russ Feingold requesting that the Senate Appropriations Committee provide an increase in funding for the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program in FY 2010. Feel free to emphasize the meaningful role school counselors play in our students' lives.

If congressional staff have any further questions, they can contact Amanda Beaumont in Sen. Feingold's office at (202) 224-5323 or amanda_beaumont@feingold.senate.gov.

If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact Amanda Fitzgerald.

Please do this today. Deadline for signatures is May 7, 2009.

ESSCP Awards Made: The Department of Education announced recipients of 52 new 2008 awards. Get more info.

Loan Forgiveness for School Counselors FAQ

Important New Resource for Borrowers
www.IBRinfo.org is a new web site that provides independent, reliable information about Income-Based Repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness, two new federal programs to help make student loan repayment fair and manageable. The site explains the programs and will be updated as new information becomes available. Users can register to get updates on important developments as the U.S. Department of Education finalizes regulations and creates the systems for managing the new programs.

If you are hearing from individuals or groups worrying about student loan payments or those wondering if they can afford to take a public service job, www.IBRinfo.org will be helpful.

Income-Based Repayment (IBR) is a new payment option for federal student loans. It will help borrowers keep their loan payments affordable with payment caps (less than 10% of income for most eligible borrowers) based on income and family size. IBR also will forgive remaining debt, if any, after up to 25 years of qualifying payments. Public Service Loan Forgiveness will forgive remaining debt after 10 years of eligible employment and qualifying loan payments for people working in key public service professions such as teaching, government, social work, law enforcement, and non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations.

These new programs take effect in July 2009. It will take a while before the U.S. Department of Education has all of the regulations written and the systems up and running. In the interim, IBRinfo.org will provide information on these two new federal programs, as well as other student financial assistance. On this website, consumers also can sign up to receive alerts about new developments as they occur.

National Alliance of Pupil Services Organizations
ASCA is a member of The National Alliance of Pupil Services Organizations (NAPSO). NAPSO is a coalition of national professional organizations whose members provide and support a variety of school-based prevention and intervention services to assist students in becoming effective learners and productive citizens.

NAPSO organizations represent over a million members, including school counselors, school nurses, psychologists, school psychologists, social workers and school social workers; occupational therapists, physical therapists, art therapists, dance/movement therapists, and music therapists; speech-language pathologists and audiologists; teachers, students, parents, and administrators.

NAPSO promotes interdisciplinary practice and collaboration and advocates for ensuring access to quality pupil services for all students. NAPSO member organizations are bound together by our common vision to bring all students, in all states, the programs and professional support services they need to insure success in school. Click here for more information.

Legislative Updates
Each week, ASCA distributes an e-mail update to interested members alerting them to education-related events on Capitol Hill. To sign up, mark your membership record to "receive legislative updates."

Legislative Links
Searching for information on a particular member of Congress or a particular bill? Check out these links:

U.S. Senate
U.S. House of Representatives
The White House
Library of Congress Thomas System

U.S. Department of Education Video Contest Challenges Students to Take Responsibility for Their Education

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 17:24:00 +0000

In two minutes or less, America's students have an opportunity to show the nation and the world how far education can take them and how they will achieve their dreams.

On September 8, President Barack Obama called on the nation's students to take greater responsibility for their education. Now, the U.S. Department of Education is asking students to respond by participating in a national video contest titled “I Am What I Learn.” (Click here to watch U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s launch video.)

“Students share responsibility for their education and for fulfilling their dreams,” Secretary Duncan said. “This video contest is an opportunity for young people to share their stories about where their education and career training can take them. At the same time, I encourage parents, schools and communities to play a strong role in their stories by being accountable for forming stronger partnerships that guide students to their goals.”

http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/09/09212009.html

Education Secretary Arne Duncan Designates 314 Schools as 2009 Blue Ribbon Schools

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 17:24:00 +0000

http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/09/09152009.html

Secretary Duncan Says Rewrite of 'No Child Left Behind' Should Start Now; Reauthorization Can't Wait

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 17:23:00 +0000

http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/09/09242009.html

Florida KidCare Act-Out for Health Contest Returns

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:32:00 +0000

For Immediate Release

Contact: Jennifer Pensy, (850) 681-3200, jennifer.pensy@saltermitchell.com
September 16, 2009
Annie Jones, (850) 701-6114, jonesa@healthykids.org

Florida KidCare Act-Out for Health Contest Returns

Students use technology to promote benefits of good healthcare

Tallahassee, Fla. – Students dreaming of a “big break” can compete for their moment in the spotlight with the Florida KidCare Act-Out for Health Contest [www.actout4health.org]. Middle school and high school students across Florida are encouraged to produce a 30-second television commercial or create a billboard advertisement promoting Florida KidCare, the state and federally-funded insurance program providing affordable health benefits for children birth through 18. Launched statewide in 2008, the Act-Out for Health contest drew more than 100 PSA and print advertisement entries from middle and high school students. This year, students will use a unique application on the contest website to create their billboard ad and lesson plans have been created for teachers.

“I am thrilled to see the Florida KidCare Act-Out for Health contest again this year,” said Reggie Grant, communications technology teacher at Lincoln High School in Leon County. “It’s an amazing opportunity for students to collaborate and creatively problem solve. Not only are students required to demonstrate important skills -- planning, organization, technology, communication, media literacy -- but scholarships are available to help further their education.”

All of the contest entries will be judged on originality and ability to promote Florida KidCare benefits to a diverse population. Winners will be chosen by a panel of judges and by the students themselves. This year, students can vote online for their favorite PSA and billboard ad for the Kids’ Choice winners. Grand prize winners will be chosen by Florida KidCare judges. The grand prize winning billboard design will be placed in the statewide winner’s hometown or the closest billboard location possible. The grand prize winning commercial will air on television stations and YouTube. Both grand prize winners will be awarded a $5,000 scholarship. Regional winners have the opportunity to win great prizes including gifts cards and funding for their schools.

“The Act-Out for Health contest is a creative way to motivate kids to action,” said Rich Robleto, executive director of Florida Healthy Kids Corporation, a Florida KidCare partner. “We think it’s important for kids to know about quality healthcare, whether they have insurance or not. The contest has been a really good vehicle to get kids thinking about healthy lifestyles, preventive care and building awareness of the Florida KidCare program.”

Florida KidCare is available to Florida children without health insurance. Children enrolled in the program receive preventive care, such as regular doctor’s visits, immunizations, dental and eye care, at a price their families can afford. Many families pay $15 or $20 per month; most pay nothing at all. A full-pay option is also available for families who may not be eligible for subsidized coverage. A recent study by the University of Florida Institute for Child Health Policy revealed the highest percentage of uninsured children in the state are kids between the ages of 12 and 18.

The contest is open to all middle and high school students across the state. To download the entry form and contest guidelines and to view last year’s winners, visit www.actout4health.org.

For questions about the Act-Out for Health contest, please call Annie Jones, communications specialist for the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation at (850) 701-6114.

Contest entries must be postmarked or submitted online no later than Wednesday, December 2, 2009.

# # #

About Florida KidCare

Florida KidCare offers affordable, quality health insurance for children under the age of 19. Children enrolled in the program receive regular doctor’s visits, dental check-ups, and immunizations. For additional information please visit www.floridakidcare.org.

On Special Education: Special Educators' Group Sets Standards for Restraint and Seclusion

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 01:10:00 +0000

Special Educators' Group Sets Standards for Restraint and Seclusion

The Council for Exceptional Children, a professional association for special educators, has announced a policy on the use of physical restraint and seclusion in school settings. The group hopes to establish as a professional standard that such procedures should only be used as a last resort when a child or others are in immediate danger, the policy says.

The group is also pushing for new laws that would require data on restraint and seclusion be reported to outside agencies, such as state or provincial departments of education.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/speced/2009/09/special_educators_group_sets_s.html

High School Connections: 'Graduation Promise Act' Introduced in Senate

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 01:09:00 +0000

Your duly elected representatives are forging ahead to conquer the graduation-rate problem.

Yesterday, a passel of senators introduced the "Graduation Promise Act," which would authorize $3 billion to combat the dropout problem. About $2.4 billion would create a fund to help states develop systemic, differentiated ways of bolstering struggling high schools. About $60 million would be available in competitive grants to expand the supply of secondary school models that would best help students at high risk of dropping out, or those who have already dropped out.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/high-school-connections/2009/09/graduation_promise_act_is_intr.html

Senator LeMieux's Weekly Update

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:52:00 +0000

September 16, 2009

Thank You for Your Support

Last week, I officially took the oath of office for the U.S. Senate. Serving 18 million Floridians in this capacity is the honor of a lifetime and a great responsibility I take very seriously. My wife Meike and I appreciate the hundreds of well wishes we've already received. Thank you for your support and words of encouragement and know that I intend to be the hardest working U.S. senator while I am in office. Be it health care, the national debt, or the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, I am here to represent your views and I look forward to hearing from you.

Upholding Free Speech and the 2nd Amendment

Minutes after my swearing-in ceremony, I had the privilege of casting my first vote. The question was whether to confirm Cass R. Sunstein to be the head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. While Mr. Sunstein is a very accomplished individual, I cast my vote against this nominee because his views are not in line with the values of Florida's families. Mr. Sunstein's opposition to an individual's right to bear arms as guaranteed under the 2nd Amendment make him an inappropriate pick to lead an important federal office.

Blocking ACORN Funding

This week, the United States Senate considered striking funding for ACORN, the not-for-profit group making headlines in the news lately, Monday, I voted to block any Federal dollars from going to ACORN because of their questionable activities including at least 30 cases of suspected voter fraud. With our mounting national debt, we can't afford to spend taxpayer money on organizations operating on the edges of the law.

The Debt, the Deficit, and Health Care Reform

In the coming months, Congress will deal with a great number of issues critically important to the future of our nation. One of the largest issues pending before Congress is how to reform our system of health care. I support affordability and access to quality health care. Right now, the costs are too high and too many people are without health insurance; but the solution can't be worse than the problem. As this debate continues, I strongly encourage you to contact me with your thoughts on the health care situation, and let me know what you believe needs to be done.

US Department of Education Announces Recommendations on the Continuity of Learning

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:13:00 +0000

http://www.healthinschools.org/News-Room/News-Alerts/August-2009/US-Department-of-Education-Announces-Recommendations-on-the-Continuity-of-Learning.aspx

August 25, 2009

U.S. Department of Education Announces Recommendations on the Continuity of Learning in Case of Flu Outbreak

New recommendations on the continuity of learning in the event of student absences or school closures due to seasonal flu or H1N1 outbreaks were announced on August 24, 2009 by the U.S. Department of Education. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius noted, “Our top priority is making sure that [students] have a way to get well, stay well and to keep learning. With these recommendations, we’re providing a menu of strategies for educators to help ensure that the learning process will continue.” The recommendations suggest that educators prepare take-home assignments in advance for distribution to affected students and use the Internet and telephones to post homework materials, conduct classes, share information and keep teachers, parents and students in the loop. The department is working with Google, Apple, Microsoft, Scholastic Inc., Pearson, Curriki, the International Association for Online Learning and other private sector partners, and service providers to make continuity of learning resources like pre-printed lesson plans, conference call services, webinar support, podcasting, and virtual classrooms more affordable and accessible for educators.

Obama Administration Announces Historic Opportunity to Turn Around Nation's Lowest-Achieving Public Schools

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 01:27:00 +0000

Obama Administration Announces Historic Opportunity to Turn Around Nation's Lowest-Achieving Public Schools
Secretary Duncan Announces $3.5 Billion in Title I School Improvement Grants to Fund Transformational Changes Where Children Have Long Been Underserved

http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/08/08262009.html

Information on H1N1 Swine Flu Now Available

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:50:00 +0000

August 24, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Information on H1N1 Swine Flu Now Available

Today, the Florida Department of Health launched a toll-free number to provide public health information and updates on H1N1 Swine flu. The information line is available from 8 AM to 8 PM Eastern, 7 days a week. This information is provided in English, Spanish and Creole.

Details are as follows: Time: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, beginning Monday, August 24, 2009

CONTACT: 877-352-3581 or DOH Communications Office: 850-245-4111

# # #

For more information about this or any other issue, please contact Senator Don Gaetz, by e-mail at gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov, by letter, 217 Miracle Strip Parkway, SE, Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548 or call 1-866-450-4DON toll free from anywhere in Florida.

To subscribe/unsubscribe go to www.senatordongaetzreports.com

Florida & Tampa Bay schools blog - The Gradebook

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:14:00 +0000

Florida & Tampa Bay schools blog - The Gradebook: "Set expectations high for Florida students, House education leader Legg says"

NEA Education Insider: July 23, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:30:00 +0000

NEA Education Insider: July 23, 2009

NEA Education Insider: July 23, 2009

Untitled Document

URGE CONGRESS TO SUPPORT SMALLER CLASS SIZES

Educators know that reducing class sizes helps improve student learning. It is simply common sense -- when qualified teachers teach smaller classes in modern schools, students learn more. Teachers with small classes can spend time and energy helping each child to succeed. Smaller classes also enhance safety, discipline, and order in the classroom.

Representative Wu (D-OR) has introduced legislation (H.R. 3010) that would provide grants to reduce class size by hiring additional fully-qualified teachers. The goals of the bill are to:

Reduce class sizes nationally, in grades one through three, to an average of 18 students per classroom; and

Improve teaching in those grades so that all students can learn to read independently and well by the end of the third grade.

Ask your Representative to support this important bill.

SPOTLIGHT: WHAT IS CONGRESS DOING FOR EDUCATORS?
(A new periodic feature highlighting Members of Congress who are supporting public education and educators)

Representative Scott Murphy (D-NY) is sounding off on the healthcare debate. Murphy, who just took his congressional seat in late April after defeating Republican Jim Tedisco, discussed with Politico magazine whether it’s worth voting for a tax increase to get health care reform.

“There are a number of things in the plan that are going to save money, but we can do a lot more to figure out how to pay for this before we turn to cash-strapped New Yorkers, who are hard hit already, and ask for more of their tax dollars,” said Murphy. “We need to have real reform before we turn to taxes.”

More than 48 million Americans—including 9 million children—have no health coverage. And with the economy in its current downturn—the situation is expected to get worse with more people losing their coverage.

Meanwhile, Representative Eric Massa (D-NY) wants to see health care reform include a robust public plan. Massa has reportedly joined a group of about 50 progressive lawmakers who have all agreed to vote against any bill that did not meet certain criteria for a public option.

Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) was quoted this week on National Public Radio in support of a public plan saying, “I believe that the reforms we are creating will result in more competitive, affordable, and innovative options for Mainers, yet we can all agree that we must not leave universal access to chance. That is why I also support a public plan which must be available from day one."

As we have reported over the last few months, NEA supports and is working aggressively for reform that ensures that every person in America has quality, affordable health care coverage. The Association opposes health care proposals that would tax employer-provided health benefits. NEA also supports a choice of plans and providers—both public and private.

Learn more about NEA’s position on health care.


NEA Government Relations 202-822-7300 http://www.nea.org/lac		1201 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036

school safety

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:36:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, July 8, the House Subcommittees on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education and Healthy Families and Communities will hold a joint hearing to examine strategies for improving school safety, including ways to prevent violence, bullying and harassment. Recent studies show students are more likely to succeed academically and graduate when learning environments are free from harassment and violence.

http://edlabor.house.gov/hearings/2009/07/strengthening-school-safety-th.shtml

More federal stimulus funding on the way to Florida schools

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:26:00 +0000

Source: The Gradebook | Tampabay.com - St. Petersburg Times and tbt* by Jeff Solochek

Acknowledging growing budget pressures that states face, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has announced the release of an added $2.7 billion in stimulus funds for states to spend on schools around the country. Florida's share: $162,179,566. (Want to know what each state will get? See the DOE's distribution spreadsheet.) "This money, which represents the final third of the government services fund, provides maximum flexibility for states to save jobs and drive reform," Duncan said in a news release. Back in May, Florida received $1.8 billion in federal funds for education after a lengthy debate over whether the state qualified for a waiver to get the money. School districts already have begun spending the money, in many cases protecting jobs that otherwise would have been eliminated.

Gaetz Takes Senate Office to Shalimar Neighborhood

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:13:00 +0000

For Immediate Release: July 2, 2009

Gaetz takes Senate office

to Shalimar neighborhood

Over 150 new or revised state laws went into effect July 1. The changes affect everything from how your child is disciplined in school to who can receive payment for your visits to the doctor to protecting jobs on the state's 21 military bases. Not to mention property insurance, fee increases and limits on property taxes.

Residents of Poquito Bayou and Shalimar can have a cup of coffee with their senator and share their views about these and other state issues next Wednesday, July 8.

From early morning until well into the evening, Senator Don Gaetz will meet with citizens one-on-one, listen to the concerns of business and civic groups, and walk door-to-door during his "Shalimar-Poquito Neighborhood Day."

Since his election to the Senate in 2006, Gaetz regularly takes his Senate office to neighborhoods throughout Northwest Florida to hear citizens' ideas and suggestions and discuss their problems face-to-face.

"Very few people have the time or opportunity to travel to Tallahassee to express themselves about state issues," Gaetz (R-Niceville) said. "Neighborhood Day is a chance for me to spend a whole day in a neighborhood and listen to small business owners, moms and dads, veterans, teachers, and taxpayers who live and work there. There's no government office, no need to make an appointment, it's all very informal."

Gaetz said he will offer coffee, iced tea and an invitation to meet individually with anyone who lives or works in the neighborhood.

"Neighborhood Day" kicks-off at 7:00 a.m. with Senator Gaetz live on News Talk 1260 AM WFTW with host Ken Walsh. Citizens can call 664-1260 and speak with the senator on the air.

At 8:00 a.m., Senator Gaetz will discuss the results of the 2009 legislative session with members of the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, located at 34 Miracle Strip Parkway.

Beginning at 9:00 a.m., at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Gaetz will meet one-on-one with anyone who would like to talk with him about problems with state agencies or offer opinions about energy, education, insurance, taxes or other concerns. If individuals want to meet with the senator at a specific time that day, call toll free 1-866-450-4DON. No appointment is necessary, however. People can simply stop by the church, located at 1 Meigs Drive in Shalimar, until 11:00 a.m. and, in the afternoon, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Everyone who comes by will have an opportunity to visit with Gaetz.

At lunch, Gaetz will speak to the Republican Women of Okaloosa Federated, at Two Trees Restaurant located at 1955 Lewis Turner Blvd., Fort Walton Beach.

Following his afternoon office hours, Senator Gaetz will visit with residents of the Air Force Enlisted Village located at 92 Sunset Lane in Shalimar.

Late in the afternoon and evening, Gaetz will walk door-to-door in the neighborhood to meet with residents on their turf. "I enjoy talking with folks on their own doorsteps," Gaetz said. The senator has knocked on over 25,000 doors in Northwest Florida.

Elected in 2006, Gaetz is in his first four year term representing Bay, Walton, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Escambia counties. He is chairman of three Senate committees: the Select Committee on Florida's Economy, Health Care Committee, and the Policy and Steering Committee on Business and Industry with jurisdiction over commerce, transportation, regulated industries and banking and insurance. Aside from his chairmanships, Gaetz is also a member of the rules, health appropriations, and education committees.

Prior to his service in the Senate, Gaetz was the elected Superintendent of Schools in Okaloosa County, served on the Okaloosa School Board and was the first town chairman of Seaside, Florida.

Don and his wife, Vicky, live in Niceville. They have two adult children – Matthew, an attorney in Fort Walton Beach, and Erin, a sports and entertainment editor in New York City.

For more information on "Neighborhood Day" or to make an appointment to meet with Senator Gaetz at a particular time, contact Meghan Rice, Legislative Aide to Senator Gaetz toll-free at 1-866-450-4DON or rice.meghan.s04@flsenate.gov . To read about legislation Senator Gaetz has sponsored and supported, please go to www.flsenate.gov and click on his member page.

For more information about this or any other issue, please contact Senator Don Gaetz, by e-mail at gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov, by letter, 217 Miracle Strip Parkway, SE, Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548 or call 1-866-450-4DON toll free from anywhere in Florida.

To subscribe/ unsubscribe, please visit www.senatordongaetzreports.com

MAJOR EDUCATION DECISIONS ISSUED BY U.S. SUPREME COURT

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:14:00 +0000

MAJOR EDUCATION DECISIONS ISSUED BY U.S. SUPREME COURT

The Supremes had a big week, handing down three very important education-related decisions. Policy workers and district decision-makers will want to understand these rulings, but that's going to take some work since clear standards for enforcement were not included in the rulings. More lawsuits will inevitably follow as schools try to work out exactly what they're supposed to do.

Forest Grove School Dist. v. T. A.

In this historic 6-3 ruling, the Court held that school districts could be sued and held liable for the costs of private school tuition even when not informed of a parents' decision to transfer their child to a private school, and even when the parents had previously agreed with the district's determination that the child was ineligible for special education services under IDEA.

Court decision: http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/08pdf/08-305.pdf)

An amicus brief was submitted by the National School Boards Association (NSBA), the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) and the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDE). Although its arguments were not upheld by the Court, the brief describes critical issues and consequences that may assist in complying with the ruling.

Brief: http://www.nsba.org/MainMenu/SchoolLaw/AmicusBriefs/Forest-Grove-v-TA.aspx

Safford Unified Sch. Dist. #1 v. Redding

The Court ruled 8-1 that a strip search of a 13-year-old girl that yielded two ibuprofen tablets violated her Fourth Amendment rights, but also found that the school administrators who authorized the search could not be held personally liable in this particular case.

Court decision: http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/08pdf/08-479.pdf

Horne v. Flores

In a complicated 5-4 decision, the Court ruled that factual and legal changes (such as No Child Left Behind interventions and district-level programming changes) that have occurred after a Court order concerning a state's funding plan for English Language Learners (ELL) entitle the state to argue for relief from order. The case involves nuanced arguments concerning federalism, states' rights, diversity, and individual civil rights. The Court was sharply split in this case, and Justice Breyer took the uncommon step of reading his detailed and vigorous dissent aloud.

Court decision: http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/08pdf/08-289.pdf

* * * * *

STAFF CHANGES AT FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Some of the top folks at the Florida Department of Education have left recently, including:

·Cornelia Orr, the FDOE Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Assessment, to accept a position as the new executive director for the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB), which is responsible for setting NAEP policies and standards.

·Pam Stewart, the FDOE Deputy Chancellor for Educator Quality, to accept a position as assistant superintendent of curriculum and learning in the School District of St. Johns County.

·Iris Wilson, the FDOE Deputy Chancellor for Student Achievement

·Yeteva Hightower, the FDOE Chief of the Bureau of Personnel Management

St. Petersburg Times http://blogs.tampabay.com/schools/2009/05/florida-department-of-education-to-lose-another-top-official.html

* * * *

NERDS REJOICE

Two new online resources bring the awesomeness right to your desktop. You've really got to give these a try. They are potentially game-changing tools for those of you with a real interest in truly competitive grantseeking, program evaluation, needs assessment, bargaining, and demographic analysis and forecasting. Many of you are already familiar with the extraordinary data tools that have long been available from NCES, and so I'm making sure you are aware of two more very special tools for those very special toolboxes.

WOLFRAM ALPHA is a brand-new search engine/calculator/aggregator service that allows you to make natural language requests and get beautiful, documented results. I can't stop playing with it. To see what it can do, look at the galleries and examples online. For a quick check, try entering something like "unemployment rate lee county" and you'll get a glimpse of what's possible. (Also: The possibilities for improving the educational usefulness of homework may be considerably increased by this service.)

http://www.wolframalpha.com/ (Corrected link)

DATA.GOV is a new federal clearinghouse site for all kinds of crunchable data. There is so much here that it's dizzying, but you'll soon get the hang of it. The nice thing about this new site is that you can download raw data files for your own analysis in Excel or SPSS or you can use their online widgets and data extraction tools to get to exactly what you want.

http://www.data.gov

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EDUCATION JARGON GENERATOR

Andy Allan, a science teacher at El Diamante High School in Visalia, California, maintains a personal Web site at http://www.sciencegeek.net as a private endeavor. He has created what he calls an online "educational jargon generator" that randomly strings together some of the awful educationese we sometimes speak to each other. (Example: "enhance mission-critical synergies.") It's a tongue-in-cheek jab, of course, at how educators sometimes mangle the English language, especially in committee-written documents such as grant proposals and reports. You'll be dismayed at how many of the random phrases actually sound like something you might see in your inbox. It's all in fun, but the lesson is a good one: plain language is best.

http://www.sciencegeek.net/lingo.html

* * * * *

RUNNING THE NUMBERS

1. Total cost of required Florida teacher certification exams if taken today: $150

2. Total cost of required exams beginning September 1: $480

3. Percentage of schools failing to make AYP in Florida this year, based on Florida's FCAT test: 77%

4. Percentage of schools failing to make AYP in Wisconsin this year, based on Wisconsin's WKCE test: 5%

5. Percentage difference in average 2007 4th grade mathematics scores between these states, based on the national NAEP test: 0.8%

6. Percentage difference in average 2007 4th grade reading scores between these states, based on the national NAEP test: 0.4%

7. Percentage difference in average 2007 8th grade mathematics scores between these states, based on the national NAEP test: 3.1%

8. Percentage difference in average 2007 8th grade reading scores between these states, based on the national NAEP test: 1.5%

SOURCES

1, 2: St. Petersburg Times http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/article1002519.ece

3. Florida DOE http://schoolgrades.fldoe.org/pdf/0809/SchoolGrades2009_15.pdf

4. Wisconsin DOE http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpi2009_60.pdf

5, 6, 7, 8. NCES http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nde/statecomp/index.asp

mathematics remediation

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:51:00 +0000

Memorandum that clarifies issues related to the implementation of section 1008.30(3), Florida Statutes, as revised in 2008 by Senate Bill 1908, regarding mathematics remediation. It provides updated information on district high school mathematics course options related to the statutory requirement that high school students be offered opportunities to remediate prior to high school graduation.

As high school counselors discuss course options with students, it is important to explain the differences between entry and exit expectations for Mathematics for College Success and Mathematics for College Readiness and to inform students of which postsecondary courses they most likely will be prepared for when they get to college. Since Mathematics for College Readiness is aligned with a college level mathematics course in The Florida College System, it should be considered college preparatory rather than remediation. It is a mathematics course option that meets high school graduation requirements. Therefore, the high school mathematics remediation option, Mathematics for College Success, should be made available to those students who do not meet the State Board of Education defined cut score of 72 on the CPT and indicate an interest.

The memorandum may be viewed at:

http://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-5428/sb1908HSMC.pdf

June 15, 2009 Legislative Update from ASCA

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:51:00 +0000

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs064/1101436446206/archive/1102611171760.html

New school accountability system now in place in Florida

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:03:00 +0000

New school accountability system now in place in Florida

School grades still matter. But for many schools, what now matters more is how they rate under a "differentiated accountability" system that Gov. Charlie Crist quietly made official when he signed HB 991 into law yesterday.

http://blogs.tampabay.com/schools/2009/06/new-school-accountability-system-now-in-place-in-florida-.html

2009 Legislative Review Book and Legislative Overview Chart

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:08:00 +0000

2009 Legislative Review Book and Legislative Overview Chart

The 2009 Legislative Review Book and Legislative Overview Chart (which has links to the bill text and the bill summary) have been posted on the Governmental Relations site at http://www.fldoe.org/GR/. It is posted in a printable format so that you may print if you choose.

More than $1.8 Billion in Recovery Funds Now Available for Florida

noreply@blogger.com (RS) — Sun, 17 May 2009 20:53:00 +0000

More than $1.8 Billion in Recovery Funds Now Available for Florida to Save Teaching Jobs and Drive Education Reform
Application for Part 1 of Florida's State Stabilization Funds Approved Today

FOR RELEASE:
May 12, 2009

Contact: Sandra Abrevaya
(202) 401-1576 or sandra.abrevaya@ed.gov

U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that more than $1.8 billion is now available for Florida under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This funding will lay the foundation for a generation of education reform and help save hundreds of thousands of teaching jobs at risk of state and local budget cuts. Florida will be eligible to apply for another $891 million this fall. Today's funding is being made available per Florida's successful completion of Part 1 of the State Stabilization Application, which was made available on April 1.

"The $1.8 billion Florida will receive today is part of the single largest boost in education funding in recent history," said Duncan. "The President's leadership and support from Congress have made this historic investment possible. Florida can now utilize these funds to save jobs and lay the groundwork for a generation of education reform."

To date, Florida has received more than $599 million in education stimulus funds—representing a combination of funding for Title I, IDEA, Vocational Rehabilitation Grants and Independent Living Grants. On April 1, Florida received more than $245 million in Title I funding and $335 million in IDEA funding. This represents 50 percent of the Title I and IDEA funding Florida is eligible for in total. On April 1, Florida also received $16 million in Vocational Rehab funds and $3 million in Independent Living funds.

In order to receive today's funds, Florida provided assurances that it will collect, publish, analyze and act on basic information regarding the quality of classroom teachers, annual student improvements, college readiness, the effectiveness of state standards and assessments, progress on removing charter caps, and interventions in turning around underperforming schools.

Florida is also required by the Department of Education to report the number of jobs saved through Recovery Act funding, the amount of state and local tax increases averted, and how funds are used.

See Florida's and other state applications for initial funding under the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund Program at http://www.ed.gov/programs/statestabilization/resources.html.

to Save Teaching Jobs and Drive Education Reform
Application for Part 1 of Florida's State Stabilization Funds Approved Today

FOR RELEASE:
May 12, 2009

Contact: Sandra Abrevaya
(202) 401-1576 or sandra.abrevaya@ed.gov

Florida is also required by the Department of Education to report the number of jobs saved through Recovery Act funding, the amount of state and local tax increases averted, and how funds are used.

See Florida's and other state applications for initial funding under the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund Program at http://www.ed.gov/programs/statestabilization/resources.html.