11/1/17
Florida
The Constitutional Revision Commission and some subcommittees are meeting this week in Tallahassee, still getting briefings on issues. Yesterday, the Education Subcommittee spent time going over topics including the change from elected to appointed state education commissioners (1998 change that took effect in 2003); history of elected and appointed school superintendents in Florida, state university governance and other state education options. Tomorrow the subcommittee is slated to get department updates on K-12 funding and funding for sectarian schools. After this week, the Commission has November 28-30slated to hold further meetings.
Meanwhile, as of yesterday, 71 proposals have been filed by Commission members. At least 10 would have direct effect on K-12 education. A list and link to each proposal is attached. The 10 include:
Funding would come from sales tax generated by the purchase of motor vehicles, but does not include heavy trucks, truck tractors, trailers, and motorcycles. The amount or value per scholarship is at the same rate used now for the corporate income tax program, to be set by the legislature. The contribution amount would be $20 per vehicle purchase and the vehicle buyer would sign off on the contribution. As the transaction occurs before the sales tax is received by the state, it is not state dollars, legally, and therefore allowable like the corporate income tax program.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Byron Donalds of Naples, will be heard in House Pre-12 Innovation Subcommittee on Wednesday, starting at 4pm. The meeting will be aired on www.thefloridachannel.org.
Also of note, Governor Rick Scott has announced part of his 2018 education budget recommendations by supporting an increase of $18 million to $63 million for teacher supplies. Look for the rest of his budget to come out later this month or early next month. He has until December 10th to submit his recommendations to the Legislature.
Federal
House and Senate leaders reportedly are working on a compromise for the federal 2018 budget (our 2018-2019 school year). Much remains dependent on 1) what happens with the proposed revisions to the US tax code, 2) any movement or attempt to change healthcare which is a major cost, and 3) agreement on extension of the federal debt ceiling which is the amount the federal government is authorized to borrow to pay debt.
Next Wednesday, there will be a Joint Subcommittee meeting by the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education and on Higher Education and Workforce Development on "Close to Home: How Opioids are Impacting Communities." The meetng will be broadcast here. There are no backup materials at this point.
The Constitutional Revision Commission and some subcommittees are meeting this week in Tallahassee, still getting briefings on issues. Yesterday, the Education Subcommittee spent time going over topics including the change from elected to appointed state education commissioners (1998 change that took effect in 2003); history of elected and appointed school superintendents in Florida, state university governance and other state education options. Tomorrow the subcommittee is slated to get department updates on K-12 funding and funding for sectarian schools. After this week, the Commission has November 28-30slated to hold further meetings.
Meanwhile, as of yesterday, 71 proposals have been filed by Commission members. At least 10 would have direct effect on K-12 education. A list and link to each proposal is attached. The 10 include:
- 4 - religious freedom--allowing use of state funds for sectarian schools
- 10 - requirement to teach civic literacy in public schools
- 25 - recreation of a separate state board for community colleges and postsecondary education
- 32 - prohibition of any compensation except for travel and mileage for state education, university and district school boards
- 33 - change to have all district superintendents appointed (41 currently elected, mostly in smaller districts)
- 43 - limit school board member terms in office to two--eight years, starting in 2020
- 45 - legislature has preeminent control over education
- 52 - revisions to local "ethics in government" requirements
- 59 - similar proposal to #4 for use of state funds for sectarian schools
- 71 - provision for the state to authorize charter schools, separate from school boards
Funding would come from sales tax generated by the purchase of motor vehicles, but does not include heavy trucks, truck tractors, trailers, and motorcycles. The amount or value per scholarship is at the same rate used now for the corporate income tax program, to be set by the legislature. The contribution amount would be $20 per vehicle purchase and the vehicle buyer would sign off on the contribution. As the transaction occurs before the sales tax is received by the state, it is not state dollars, legally, and therefore allowable like the corporate income tax program.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Byron Donalds of Naples, will be heard in House Pre-12 Innovation Subcommittee on Wednesday, starting at 4pm. The meeting will be aired on www.thefloridachannel.org.
Also of note, Governor Rick Scott has announced part of his 2018 education budget recommendations by supporting an increase of $18 million to $63 million for teacher supplies. Look for the rest of his budget to come out later this month or early next month. He has until December 10th to submit his recommendations to the Legislature.
Federal
House and Senate leaders reportedly are working on a compromise for the federal 2018 budget (our 2018-2019 school year). Much remains dependent on 1) what happens with the proposed revisions to the US tax code, 2) any movement or attempt to change healthcare which is a major cost, and 3) agreement on extension of the federal debt ceiling which is the amount the federal government is authorized to borrow to pay debt.
Next Wednesday, there will be a Joint Subcommittee meeting by the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education and on Higher Education and Workforce Development on "Close to Home: How Opioids are Impacting Communities." The meetng will be broadcast here. There are no backup materials at this point.
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