Thursday, April 01, 2010

FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE

 

In this issue:

 

1. Florida Legislative Session Update

2. New State Board Rules Adopted

3. NAEP Results for 2009 Reading Assessment

4. Florida's Race to the Top Proposal: What Happened?'

5. Remembering Jaime Escalante

6. Running The Numbers

  

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FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE

This week is a short but momentous one for the Legislature, with only two days of activities that will see both houses pass their budget plans. The Senate unanimously approved a $69.5 billion budget on March 31st. This budget includes approximately $3 billion in non-recurring federal stimulus money to fund Medicaid and PK-12 education. The Senate budget also includes about $412 million in expected revenues from the long-delayed gambling compact with the Seminole Tribe, which has still not been approved. The House budget that is being debated on the House floor today calls for about $1 billion less in spending.

 

Many bills will wither and die on the vine this week because of House rules that block consideration of bill that have not yet been heard by at least one committee.

 

Last week's House Education Policy Committee meeting ended abruptly, leaving many people who had come to Tallahassee to speak with a chance to be heard. Apparently looking to correct that, the House Education Committee has scheduled a lengthy session (noon to 8:15 P.M.) on Monday to discuss nothing but high school graduation requirements and teacher evaluation and compensation.

 

Bill updates follow.

 

SENATE 0004 (by Nancy Detert, R-Venice and 10 others). Similar to HOUSE 7053. This bill is consistent, in part, with proposals from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Foundation for Florida's Future, and Achieve, Inc. It is also consistent with the state's Race to the Top grant proposal. This bill would eliminate FCAT administration for mathematics (Grades 9 and 10) and science (Grade 11) in favor of end-of-course examinations. It would require students to pass Geometry, Biology I, Algebra II, Chemistry or physics, and an "equally rigorous science course" in order to graduate from high school. It would also require passing certain end-of-course examinations in order to receive credit in most of those courses, and would allow students to earn credit in those courses by examination only. It would also require high school students to take at least one virtual course in order to graduate. The bill would eliminate Florida's current system of having high school students declare majors. The bill was approved by the Education Committee on March 10th by a 6-2 vote. The bill was approved on March 16th by the Senate Policy & Steering Committee on Ways and Means with 17-7 vote. Along with four amendments, the bill was approved on March 24th by the Senate 36-1. The Governor has indicated he would likely sign the bill if approved by the House.

This week's action: None. The bill was previously approved by the Senate and now being considered by the House.

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SENATE 0006 (by John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville and 8 others). Similar to HOUSE 7189. This bill is consistent, in part, with proposals from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Foundation for Florida's Future, and Achieve, Inc. It is also consistent with the state's Race to the Top grant proposal. It would require that more than 50 percent of the salary of instructional personnel and school-based administrators (including those in charter schools) would be based on student learning gains and would require differentiated pay for difficult assignments. It would forbid school districts from considering an employee's experience or education in its salary schedule. It would withhold five percent of the total local, state, and federal funding allocated for each district to be held in a special incentive fund for performance pay. It would abolish professional services contracts for teachers hired after July 1, 2010 and limit those teachers to holding only probationary or annual contracts. It would also require that non-instructional personnel would be compensated under a performance pay plan. It would require all high schools (including all charter high schools) to implement end-of-course examinations in all subjects not tested with FCAT, IB, AP, or similar examinations. The bill provides for the suspension or removal of a superintendent whose standardized testing program is found to be out of compliance with security requirements. The bill would shorten the time available to obtain professional certification and would abolish certification on the basis of a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards credential. The bill would limit Dale Hickam bonuses for National Board teachers to those who who already hold a National Board certificate and who are currently teaching. The bill requires local school boards to impose a punitive ad valorem tax if the school district fails to comply with these new requirements. The bill was approved by the Education Committee on March 10th by a 6-2 vote. It was approved by the Policy & Steering Committee on Ways and Means on March 19th by a 15-8 vote. On March 24, the bill was approved with six amendments by a 21-17 vote mostly along party lines (four Republicans voted against the bill and no Democrats voted for it.) The Governor has indicated he would likely sign the bill if approved by the House.

This week's action: None. The bill was previously approved by the Senate and now being considered by the House. The Speaker has advised the House that amendments are to be discouraged in order to allow for swifter consideration of the bill.

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HOUSE 0413 (by John Wood, R-Winter Haven ). Similar to SENATE 0660. This bill would make historical reductions in pensions provided under the Florida Retirement System. For new hires, the bill would eliminate the option of choosing the defined benefit plan currently used by 88% of all FRS members and limit their retirement benefit only to the defined contribution plan.

This week's action: None.

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HOUSE 1173 (by Erik Fresen, R-Miami). Similar to SENATE 2262. This bill authorizes virtual charter schools. It provides that home-schooled students may enroll in courses offered by the Florida Virtual School or a franchisee, and provides that home-schooled students may enroll in courses offered in the school district in which the student resides. The bill requires that high school students take at least one virtual course. The bill had its first reading by the House on 1st Reading on March 02, 2010.

This week's action: None.

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HOUSE 1319 (by Tom Grady, R-Naples). No Senate companion bill. This bill would make historic reductions in pensions provided under the Florida Retirement System. New employees or employees entering DROP would be required to contribute 1% of their salary to FRS. For all current employees, pension benefits would be calculated on a total career average instead of the current five-highest-year average, reducing most pensions amounts by 40% to 50%. For all current employees, the retirement age would increase from the current 30 years to 33 years, or from age 62 to 65. For all current employees, the annual accrual rate would be reduced from the current 16% per year to 1.44% per year. Several other provisions have the similar effect of significantly reducing pension benefit for current employees.

This week's action: The bill seems to be dead. The Governor has indicated that he will veto this bill if it passes in its current form. The bill was referred to four committees, but none of them has scheduled it for consideration.

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SENATE 1344 (by Evelyn Lynn, R-Daytona Beach). This bill reduces state costs of providing the Bright Futures scholarships by increasing the legibility requirements and by raising the academic requirements necessary to maintain the scholarships. On March 25th, the Senate Policy & Steering Committee on Ways and Means approved by the bill by an 18-5 vote.

This week's action: On March 31st, the Senate approved the bill by a 33-4 vote. It will now go to the House for consideration.

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SENATE 1368 (by Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville). No House companion bill. This bill addresses numerous issues. Notably, this bill would have the constitutional class size calculations be based on February reporting rather than October, and increase the fiscal penalty for non-compliance to include the base student allocation in addition to the class size allocation for all students over the constitutional limits. The bill specifies that the class size limits do apply to charter schools but do not apply to virtual classrooms. It lowers the administrative fees school districts may charge to charter schools. This bill would require that all high school materials be primarily adopted and delivered in electronic format. The bill increases VPK class size from 10 to 12. This bill would have school districts contract with community colleges to provide high school students access to Florida college courses to be delivered virtually. It removes the requirement for a state board rule establishing the minimum length of a school year. The bill lowers bonuses paid for IB, AICE, and AP examinations. It requires, in effect, that school board member salaries be the same level as the salaries of legislators. It freezes the salaries of elected superintendents and encourages that the salaries of appointed superintendents also be frozen. On March 19, it passed the Senate Education PK-12 Committee by a 4-1 vote. On March 26, the bill was approved with two amendments by the Senate Policy & Steering Committee on Ways and Means by a 15-3 vote.

This week's action: On March 31st, the bill was passed by the Senate in a 28-9 vote.

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HOUSE 1543 (by Juan Zapata, R-Miami). No Senate companion bill. This bill would make historic reductions in pensions provided under the Florida Retirement System. The bill would collapse the current five plans to two and would limit pensions benefits to no more than 70% of the highest single year's salary. On March 24th, this bill was withdrawn from further consideration.

This week's action: None. This bill has been withdrawn.

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SENATE 1764 (by Alfred Lawson, D-Tallahassee). No House companion bill. This bill would increase the minimum and maximum health insurance subsidies for each eligible FRS retiree from $5 to $7 per year of service and would increase the contribution paid by employers to 1.75 percent of each employee's gross compensation.

This week's action: None. No further action is expected.

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SENATE 1902 (by Michael Bennett, R-Bradenton) would make historical reductions in pensions provided under the Florida Retirement System. For retirements beginning after July 1, 2010, The bill would limit pensions benefits to no more than 70% of the final average compensation.

This week's action: None.

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SENATE 2022 (by J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales) would require Florida Retirement System-covered employees to contribute 0.25% of their gross salary to the state retirement fund. This would be a historic change, since FRS would thus become a member-contributory system for the first time in the era of the current retirement system. On March 25th, the bill was approved by the  Senate Policy & Steering Committee on Ways and Means in a 15-8 vote.

This week's action: On March 31st, the bill was passed by the Senate in a 26-7 vote.

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SENATE 2126 (by Joe Negron, R-Palm City and 18 others) would expand Florida's private school voucher program, currently funded by corporate tax credits. The bill would increase the per-student amount paid to private schools from the current $3,950 to an estimated $5,500, or a total cost of about $140 million. On March 16th, the bill was approved by the Senate Finance and Tax Committee by 4-1 vote. On March 19th, the bill was approved 16-6 by the Policy & Steering Committee on Ways and Means. On March 24th, the bill was approved by the Senate on a 27-11 vote

This week's action: None. The bill was previously approved by the Senate and now being considered by the House.

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SENATE 2262 (by John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville) authorizes charter schools to operate as franchises of the Florida Virtual School. It provides that home-schooled students may enroll in courses offered by the Florida Virtual School or a franchisee, and provides that home-schooled students may enroll in courses offered in the school district in which the student resides. The bill requires that high school students take at least one virtual course.

This week's action: None.

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SENATE 2468 (by Alfred Lawson, D-Tallahassee) would redefine average final compensation from being based on the employee's highest-paid five years to the employee's highest-paid three years, and important factor in calculating retirement benefits.

This week's action: None. No further action is expected.

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HOUSE 5101 (by Anitere Flores, R-Miami and 13 others) addresses multiple topics. It requires school districts to make contingency plans for class size compliance pending the outcome of the proposed November 2010 constitutional amendment. This bill would have the constitutional class size calculations be based on February reporting rather than October, and increase the fiscal penalty for non-compliance to include the base student allocation in addition to the class size allocation for all students over the constitutional limits. It requires detailed reported on the education of gifted students. This bill would require that all high school materials be primarily adopted and delivered in electronic format and promotes adoption of electronic learning management systems. On March 23rd, the bill was approved by the House Full Appropriations Council on Education & Economic Development by a 12-5 vote.

This week's action: A technical amendment was filed on April 1, but no substantive action was taken.

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HOUSE 5701 (by David Rivera, R-Miami and 17 others) would abolish the health insurance subsidy of up to $150 per month currently paid to FRS retirees who have health insurance. On March 23rd, the bill was approved by the House Full Appropriations Council on Education & Economic Development in an 11-6 vote.

This week's action: On March 31st, the bill was added to the House third reading calendar. This moves the bill forward to being ready for a full House vote.

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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION ADOPTS NEW STATE BOARD RULES

On March 26th, the State Board of Education took action on a number of State Board Rules. Several new State Board Rules were approved, including:

Several other existing State Board Rules were amended, including:

Several State Board Rules were repealed, including:

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NAPE READING RESULTS ANNOUNCED; SOME ACHIEVEMENT GAPS NARROWED

The National Assessment of Education Progress issued  new report of the 2009 NAEP reading assessment. Over 300,000 students sat for the sampled assessment in grades 4 and 8. Nationally, significant gains in 8th grade were observed. In Florida, the achievement gap was significantly narrowed for 4th grade black students and 4th grade low-income students.

Nation's Report Card: Reading 2009 (Web page with link to PDF download)

Florida Snapshot of 4th Grade Reading 2009 (PDF)

Florida Snapshot of 8th Grade Reading 2009 (PDF)

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FLORIDA'S RACE TO THE TOP PROPOSAL: WHAT HAPPENED?

 

Florida's ambitious and immense Race to the Top proposal was widely-regarded as sure thing by most people familiar with this new federal grant program. However, the U.S. Department of Education only funded two relatively small proposals (Delaware and Tennessee) in the first round. Florida and nearly all other states will now have to pore over the score sheets from the grant reviewers to revise their proposals, and resubmit in a second round of competition scheduled for June.

 

So what happened? Here's a summary of key points from the 60 pages of reviewer notes (PDF).

 

Follow the instructions. Florida's request was clearly too big to be approved. One reviewer noted that the state had requested 163% of the highest award that was available. The original grant announcement limited states the size of Florida to an estimated award range of $350 million to $700 million. However, Florida's proposal asked for $1,14 billion. In a clearly-worded letter to state governors (MS Word) on March 30th, the Secretary warned that second round proposals that exceeded the allowable award range would not be considered at all. This means that Florida's proposal will have to be significantly scaled back.

 

Collaborate for success. Two reviewers gave the state only about half the available points for translating district participation into statewide impact, a serious penalty in a competition this fierce. Reviewers generally praised the high levels of district support (89%), but noted solemnly that only 8% of local education association leaders signed on to the proposal. Two reviewers only provided 6 out of 10 points for stakeholder support, and another gave only 4 points.

 

Stay the course with standards, assessments, and evaluations. Florida's proposal received perfect scores in most areas related to the adoption of common core standards and related common assessments. The state also received perfect scores for data collection and analysis, with reviewers noting that Florida is a "pioneer" and has created "one of the most comprehensive data systems in the country." However, the state only received a little more than half the points available for translating that data into decisions, with reviewers scolding the state for not defining exactly how a teacher's measure of success would be calculated. One reviewer gave the lowest score possible for accessing and using this data, frostily noting that "this initiative doesn't appear very well thought through."

 

Focus on equity and effectiveness. One reviewer only awarded half the points available for ensuring that high-quality teachers would be equitably assigned across hard-to-staff schools and subject areas, and only half the points available for ensuring the teacher and principal preparation programs were effective. Another gave higher marks, but chastised the state for using "unnecessary and incomprehensible jargon."

 

Charter school requirements are fully met. Florida received perfect scores for the exacting Race to the Top charter school requirements. This is not surprising, since Florida is one of the most charter-friendly states in the nation.

 

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REMEMBERING JAIME ESCALANTE: FAREWELL, KEMO

 

Arguably America's most well-known teacher after the release of the 1988 film Stand and Deliver, Jaime Escalante has passed away at the age of 79. His accomplishment in helping inner-city youth achieve success in higher mathematics is still the subject of much analysis, debate...and awe. It's all about love and ganas, he explained.

 

Los Angeles Times (Web page)

 

New York Times (Web page)

 

Washington Post (Web page)

 

 

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RUNNING THE NUMBERS

(1) Amount the Governor proposed taking from state trust funds to instead use as general funds in FY11: $352 million

(2) Amount the Florida Senate is considering: $295 million

(3) Amount the Florida House is considering: $788 million

(4) Estimated minimum number of e-mail messages received by the Florida House in opposition to Senate Bill 6: 100,000

Sources

(1-3) Orlando Sentinel (Web page)

(4) Miami Herald (Web page)

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