One of the best strategies for providing private support for public education is being able to match donations; it is a huge incentive to donors.  One of our more valuable matches, the School District Matching Grant (SDMG) program, was adopted by the Florida Legislature in 2000.  This was quite an innovation when it started; in fact, Florida remains the only state offering this type of match to provide an incentive for private investment in K-12 education.  The SDMG has provided matches for such Foundation programs as Teaching Tools and Hillsborough Reads, as well as significant levels in our classroom and school grant programs over the years.
 
The SDMG program is in jeopardy and we need your help.  The state-wide appropriation was cut 55% to $1.8 Million for 2008-09.  We certainly understand the financial pressure the state is under and the importance of scrutinizing spending.  This is one of the few programs that doubles the investment of tax dollars (since with the requisite match, that $1.8M becomes $3.6M statewide).

 
Please take a moment and email your state legislators, a list can be found here.  Let them know that you support public education and the investment private citizens make to help their schools.  Tell them you support maintaining the Governor's Budget Specific Appropriation #90 at its current $1.8M level since it has already taken a 55% reduction.  Thanks!