The following legislative updates are courtesy of FAME's lobbyist Vern Pickup-Crawford. Vern is the president and consultant of Schoolhouse Consulting Group, Inc.
9/14/18
State
The State Board of Education unanimously adopted its required legislative budget request (LBR) today that will be submitted to the Governor's office for Governor Scott to confer with his successor for submission early next year to the Legislature. The SBE approved a total potential state/local increase of 2.72% over current year (July FTE count data) that includes a 2.82% increase in the Base Student allocation (BSA).
The full 344-page budget proposal and backup cam be viewed and downloaded under Action Item 4 below. Page 140 of that document is the customary FEFP summary page that outlines changes. Deputy Commissioner Linda Champion used a separate PowerPoint to highlight the budget which can be viewed here. A quick summary page includes the following recommendations:
§
Funding per student $7,607.03 ($200.00 increase over current year)
§
$101.3 million total increase in funds to support an additional 13,680.17 students
§
$100 million increase in Safe Schools Allocation for a total of $262.0 million
§
$75.3 million increase for Student Transportation for a total of $518.3 million
§
$10 million increase in the Mental Health Assistance Allocation for a total of $79.2 million
Increase of $10 million for workload and inflation for capital outlay for charter schools to maintain 100% state funding of charter school needs (which would not require districts to contribute local 1.5 mill dollars to charter schools under 2018 legislation)
Maintaining $50 million for school district capital maintenance and repairs
In recent years the Governor has adopted the SBE recommendations for submission to the Legislature. Legislators, however, have been passing budgets below what the Governor had recommended. 2019-2020 will not be known until after Gov. Scott's successor takes office in January.
The Board also discussed a motion by Member Mike Olenick to allow access to dollars set aside this year for the new safe schools Guardian program. Governor Scott has twice requested the Legislative Budget Commission to approve the remaining so-far unspent $58 million for school district security uses (Legislative leadership wants more time to allow districts to consider applying for a greater share than the current $9 million of a total $67 million allocation). Olenick sought to have the SBE recommend flexibility for school districts as part of the budget recommendations, citing needs such as those in his Treasure Coast region. His motion was not approved.
The SBE also approved a series of rule changes that are listed below. Those involved with agreements with the state's public colleges may find #6 Florida Attainment Presentation helpful for information and future reference. Colleges Chancellor Madeline Pumariega provided data showing enrolment and graduation numbers statewide. As expected, the two largest are career/technical programs and 2-year AA programs.
Action Items
Presentation
Consent Items
The State Board will meet one last time this calendar year on October 25th at Crystal River Middle School in Crystal River.
Federal
Published reports and news from education associations such as AASA say House and Senate leaders have reached agreement on various federal budgets (there are 13 including Health, Education and Labor--LHHS) and are ready to approve a Continuing Resolution to December 7th to complete work. Word is the level of funding for education is essentially current year, slightly adjusted in some categories, with a small bump for special education. We'll keep you posted.
The State Board of Education unanimously adopted its required legislative budget request (LBR) today that will be submitted to the Governor's office for Governor Scott to confer with his successor for submission early next year to the Legislature. The SBE approved a total potential state/local increase of 2.72% over current year (July FTE count data) that includes a 2.82% increase in the Base Student allocation (BSA).
The full 344-page budget proposal and backup cam be viewed and downloaded under Action Item 4 below. Page 140 of that document is the customary FEFP summary page that outlines changes. Deputy Commissioner Linda Champion used a separate PowerPoint to highlight the budget which can be viewed here. A quick summary page includes the following recommendations:
§
Funding per student $7,607.03 ($200.00 increase over current year)
§
$101.3 million total increase in funds to support an additional 13,680.17 students
§
$100 million increase in Safe Schools Allocation for a total of $262.0 million
§
$75.3 million increase for Student Transportation for a total of $518.3 million
§
$10 million increase in the Mental Health Assistance Allocation for a total of $79.2 million
Increase of $10 million for workload and inflation for capital outlay for charter schools to maintain 100% state funding of charter school needs (which would not require districts to contribute local 1.5 mill dollars to charter schools under 2018 legislation)
Maintaining $50 million for school district capital maintenance and repairs
In recent years the Governor has adopted the SBE recommendations for submission to the Legislature. Legislators, however, have been passing budgets below what the Governor had recommended. 2019-2020 will not be known until after Gov. Scott's successor takes office in January.
The Board also discussed a motion by Member Mike Olenick to allow access to dollars set aside this year for the new safe schools Guardian program. Governor Scott has twice requested the Legislative Budget Commission to approve the remaining so-far unspent $58 million for school district security uses (Legislative leadership wants more time to allow districts to consider applying for a greater share than the current $9 million of a total $67 million allocation). Olenick sought to have the SBE recommend flexibility for school districts as part of the budget recommendations, citing needs such as those in his Treasure Coast region. His motion was not approved.
The SBE also approved a series of rule changes that are listed below. Those involved with agreements with the state's public colleges may find #6 Florida Attainment Presentation helpful for information and future reference. Colleges Chancellor Madeline Pumariega provided data showing enrolment and graduation numbers statewide. As expected, the two largest are career/technical programs and 2-year AA programs.
Action Items
Presentation
Consent Items
- Approval of New Rule 6A-1.099812, Education Accountability for Department of Juvenile Justice Education Programs (PDF)
- Approval of Amendment to Rule 6A-1.094224, Uniform Assessment Calendar (PDF)
- Approval of Amendment to Rule 6A-1.09414, Course Requirements – Grades PK-12 Exceptional Student Education (PDF)
- ESE Course Descriptions
- Elementary School (PDF)
- Middle School (PDF)
- High School (PDF)
- ESE Course Descriptions
- Approval of Appointments to the Education Practices Commission (EPC) (PDF)
- Approval of Amendments to Rules 6A-18.0401, 6A-18.042, 6A-18.0421, and 6A-18.045, pertaining to Division of Blind Services (PDF)
- Approval of Amendments to Rules 6A-25.006, 6A-25.008, and 6A-25.009, pertaining to Vocational Rehabilitation (PDF)
- Approval of Amendment to Rules 6M-8.610, Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Director Credential for Private Providers and 6M-8.615, VPK Training Requirements (PDF)
- Approval of Amendment to Rule 6M-9.115, Procedures and Criteria for Approval of School Readiness Plans (PDF)
- Approval of Amendment to Rule 6M-9.300, Child Care Resource and Referral and Consumer Education (PDF)
- Land Swap; 14901 NE 20th Avenue, North Miami, Florida (PDF)
The State Board will meet one last time this calendar year on October 25th at Crystal River Middle School in Crystal River.
Federal
Published reports and news from education associations such as AASA say House and Senate leaders have reached agreement on various federal budgets (there are 13 including Health, Education and Labor--LHHS) and are ready to approve a Continuing Resolution to December 7th to complete work. Word is the level of funding for education is essentially current year, slightly adjusted in some categories, with a small bump for special education. We'll keep you posted.
9/5/18
On a 4-3 ruling, the Florida Supreme Court this afternoon announced its summary judgment to strike Amendment 8 on public schools from the November 6thballot. The court made the ruling following arguments presented on Wednesday in West Palm Beach by opposing parties. The ruling is attached and the Court said no rehearing will be allowed. Details concerning the court's ruling will follow at a later time.
| 2018-1368_disposition_143763_d05[1].pdf |
9/5/18
The 7-member Florida Supreme Court, in South Florida for non-related meetings, held oral arguments on Detzner v League of Women Voters regarding proposed Amendment 8 on public schools. The amendment is part of a package by the Constitutional Revision Commission last Spring. It groups or bundles three issues--limiting school board terms in office to 8 years, placing required civics instruction in the constitution and setting potential authority for the state to create schools or school systems separate from those controlled and operated by school boards. The focus of argument is whether the ballot summary accurately describes the amendment for voters to understand. Deputy Solicitor General Daniel Bell and League attorney Ron Meyer briefly stated their positions to the court, but most of the time was spent by the justices freely asking questions or in discourse with the attorneys. The 49-minute hearing can be viewed here as an archived Florida Channel broadcast. The history of the court case (SC18-1368) is here. It does not include today's discussion.
The justices did not issue any decision, but have until September 22nd to do so. Look for online or published accounts of the hearing in the morning.
In a related hearing, Leon County Circuit Judge Karen Gievers heard arguments on a separate suit that seeks to take six proposed amendments off the ballot by reason of unconstitutional grouping. To avoid duplication, Giever said she would rule only on those amendments that are not involved in another challenge...thus amendment 8 will not be considered in that pending litigation at this point.
The justices did not issue any decision, but have until September 22nd to do so. Look for online or published accounts of the hearing in the morning.
In a related hearing, Leon County Circuit Judge Karen Gievers heard arguments on a separate suit that seeks to take six proposed amendments off the ballot by reason of unconstitutional grouping. To avoid duplication, Giever said she would rule only on those amendments that are not involved in another challenge...thus amendment 8 will not be considered in that pending litigation at this point.
| edr-aug16grsummaryfy18-22.pdf |