Monday, September 22, 2008

Read an article related to SB 1908 and the decreasing emphasis on the FCAT for school grading beginning in 2009-2010.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/article490131.ece

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Legislative Update

Source: American School Counselor Association

Congress recently returned to the Capitol following a six-week recess. These periodic breaks are designed to let tempers cool and let the electorate inform the elected of their priorities and their assessment of work done to date. By all accounts the public is dissatisfied; the approval rating for Congress has never been lower. Given the long list of unfinished business before Congress and the limited number of working days that remain, let's hope they got the message.

The first order of business was the very item that sent members home in a bad mood in early August - U.S. dependency on foreign oil. The leadership in the House and Senate, both Democratic and Republican, has been working hard to come up with a compromise energy package that would ensure the public something is being done to address high prices at the gas pump. The issue of drilling for oil, where it can be done and what it costs corporations, is not just a matter for an energy bill. Congress will be at risk of shutting down the government on Oct. 1, the start of the new fiscal year, if members can't come to agreement on this issue. How are these two items connected? The Energy and Water Development appropriations bill contains language each year that prohibits offshore drilling. Republicans in the House of Representatives and the president have threatened to oppose or veto the continuing resolution that must pass by the end of September to ensure continued government operations if the language is included this year.

A continuing resolution will be necessary because Congress has run out of time to pass individual spending bills. Missing that Oct. 1 deadline means all federal agencies would lose their spending authority for the new fiscal year. Given the fact that many Democrats have moderated their positions on offshore drilling, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) fear they lack the votes to keep the prohibition in place and, as a result, are in a mood to compromise. Everyone on Capitol Hill is anxious to return home to campaign for presidential candidates and, in many instances, for themselves. The Sept. 26 target adjournment date will certainly mark the end of the 110th if the issue of oil drilling can be resolved.

Another unresolved matter is whether or not members will return to Washington after the election. Again, the details of the continuing resolution will come into play. If the leadership can garner enough votes to keep the government operating through January, that would be the preferred plan. Alternatively, if there are only enough votes for a bill that expires in November, a lame-duck session will be required. A November expiration date would mean a return to Washington in mid-November or early December, with hopes of moving forward on adopting a new budget.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Disaster Recovery Centers Opened

From Senator Bill Nelson:

September 4, 2008


Dear Floridian:

Sadly, a number of Floridians lost loved ones during Tropical Storm Fay, and many others sustained injuries or property damage. I wanted to take a minute to let you know where you and your neighbors can turn for help.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced individuals and families in Brevard, Duval, Hendry, Lee, Leon, Okeechobee, Seminole, St. Lucie, Volusia, and Wakulla counties who sustained uninsured or underinsured losses as a result of Tropical Storm Fay are eligible for individual assistance.

FEMA's assistance program can help eligible applicants with serious unmet needs including temporary housing assistance, uninsured personal property, and medical, dental, and funeral expenses caused by the storm. Low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration also are available to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes in the designated counties.

To apply for individual assistance, call FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). FEMA operators are available 7 a.m. to midnight local time, seven days a week, until further notice. If you experience problems reaching FEMA, please try calling them early in the morning or late in the evening. Or, you can use this link to apply for assistance online: http://www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm

Disaster Recovery Centers Opened
FEMA has opened Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) to expedite service once you have registered for assistance. Officials suggest you bring your identification, social security numbers, insurance information, proof of address, contact phone numbers as well as your special FEMA application number to one of the below centers which are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until further notice.

Brevard County
Agricultural Center
3695 Lake Drive
Cocoa, FL 32901

Near Lamplighter Village
505 N. Jones Rodes Blvd
Melbourne, FL 32904

Grant Street Community Center
2547 Grant Street
Melbourne, FL 32901

Hendry County
(will close permanently at 6 p.m. Saturday, September 6)
Harlem Civic Center
2000 7th Street
Clewiston, FL 33440

Labelle Rodeo Grounds
100 Rodeo Street
Labelle, FL 33935

Okeechobee County
(will close permanently at 10 a.m. Thursday, September 4)
Across from County Courthouse
304 N.W. 2nd Street
Okeechobee, FL 34972

St. Lucie County
St. Lucie Logistics Center
3855 South U.S. Hwy 1
Fort Pierce, FL 34945

Seminole County
Reflections at Hidden Lake
520 W. Lake Mary Blvd.
Suite 101
Sanford, LF 32773

Volusia County
Wal-Mart parking lot
2400 Veterans Memorial Parkway
Orange City, FL 32763

Sincerely,

A
Bill Nelson
U.S. Senator

Friday, September 05, 2008

Amendments 5, 7, and 9

Legislative Update

 

A Note in case you missed the news: The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that Amendments 5, 7, and 9 will not be on the November 4th ballot.  This is very good news for Public Schools including students with exceptionalities!

Thank you to everyone who sent emails, wrote letters, made phone calls, etc. and thank you to FSCA communication team who quickly got this information about the Nov. ballot onto the FSCA website and out to our members.  This is truly a grassroots effort to help students in Florida!  

 

Best Regards,

LeAnn Pollard

FSCA Advocacy Committee

 

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Rep. Sanchez to Announce Education Legislation

Congresswoman Linda Sánchez will hold a news conference Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008 at 1 p.m. at Whittier High School in Whittier, Calif., to announce education legislation she has introduced in Congress that will increase the number of school counselors, social workers and psychologists in qualified schools in low-income communities.