At 8 A.M. on September 8th, a deafening silence came over our state as thousands took 8 moments of silence for the 8% cuts to base student funding for the 2011-2012 school year. The 8% reduction brought student funding back to where it was a decade ago.

 

Communities across the state sent a strong message to our Legislators in creative ways. School Board members and Superintendents recessed meetings for 8 seconds; parents wrote 8 letters and made 8 phone calls to their respective Legislators; teachers joined students to stand in silence for 8 moments.

 

Media coverage throughout the state was extensive.

 

Our united message was heard through our silence.

   

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Florida PTA is the state's largest and oldest volunteer organization, dedicated to advocating for every.child with one.voice.  Education and other children's services are scandalously under-funded in Florida.  Florida PTA, made up of over 300,000 members in over 1400 local PTA units, represents the organization's advocacy for education and children's services.