Dear Friends,
The way we educate our children will soon fundamentally
change as a result of federal and state reforms driving a massive
transformation of how schools function.
How should we prepare
and respond?
Now is the time for active participation in the public
policy environment. There is an
expression used frequently in politics, "if you are not at the table you are on
the menu". If you believe that any
of the policy proposals below impact you, your family and your community, then
now is the time to get involved.
What national reforms
are in the works?
Florida
has been named a finalist in the first phase of the $4.35-billion federal Race
to the Top education reform competition.
Winners of Race to the Top funding will be expected to implement
significant education reform plans. Read more here. Our state will find out in a matter of days
the result of our application for a national Race to the Top grant, which could
mean receipt of one-time, nonrecurring federal funds towards enormous changes
in the way we educate our students.
What state reforms
are being considered?
Education personnel:
proposals are moving quickly in the Legislature that would no longer consider a
teacher's experience or advanced degrees in salaries and would require our
students to take more standardized tests.
Retaining, recertification and compensation of teachers would be largely
based on student test scores on standardized tests. New teachers would be subject to probationary
contracts for up to five years, then an annual contract after that. The Legislature is likely to also abolish an
effective and popular program that rewards those who become National Board
Certified Teachers, a rigorous national program that awards certification after
a yearlong, independent review of a teacher's work in the classroom and
knowledge of their field.
Class size: a
proposal is expected to be placed on the November 2010 ballot that would calculate
the maximum class size at the school level average -- not the classroom level
average. Accordingly, the maximum number of students who may be assigned to a
teacher (while not exceeding the school level average) could grow to 21
students in PK-3, 27 students in grades 4 through 8; and 30 students in grades
9 through 12.
Education personnel retirement:
Legislative proposals are calling for major changes to the school employee
retirement program known as DROP such as higher salary contributions, changing
final salary calculation from the highest five years to the total career
average salary and increasing the retirement years of service from 30 to 33
years.
High school
graduation requirements: the Legislature is advancing bills for an incremental
increase of graduation requirements in Florida
to better align with the expectations of college and the workforce. Starting
next year, the class of 2014 will be required to take geometry to graduate.
Each year following, students will be required to take Biology I, then Algebra
II, and finally chemistry or physics will be required for students in the class
of 2017.
FCAT changes: The
Legislature is debating the discontinuation of the Florida Comprehensive
Assessment Test (FCAT) for mathematics (Grades 9 and 10) and science (Grade
11), as end of course assessments are implemented. FCAT reading and mathematics for students in
grades 3 through 8 would continue. FCAT
science for students in grades 5 and 8 would continue.
Vouchers: Several
legislative proposals would enable more education vouchers through the expansion
of the state's Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship Program. Companies would be allowed to redirect money
which would normally be paid to the state in the form of oil and gas production
taxes; alcoholic beverage taxes and sales and use taxes and give it instead to
private school voucher funding organizations.
Where can I find out
more information about these proposals?
The following list of organizations is not an exhaustive
list but it represents a diverse range of viewpoints on the above issues:
U.S. Department of Education
The Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation
Florida
Department of Education
Florida Legislature
Florida Education
Association
Florida School Boards
Association
Florida Chamber of
Commerce
Foundation
for Florida's Future
Pinellas County
Schools
Pinellas County Education
Foundation
PCTA-PESPA
Pinellas
County Council of PTAs
St. Petersburg Times' Florida & Tampa Bay schools blog - The
Gradebook
What happens next?
I welcome your guidance and thought leadership during these
times of transition. As you learn more
about all of these proposed changes, please send me your questions and
concerns. In the coming months, we will
know the outcomes of both our federal grant application and the results from Florida's legislative
session. All signs currently point to
passage of many of these proposals. As
the Pinellas County School Board begins the process of adapting to massive
transformation of how we educate our children, your support will be critical to
our success. Successful student learning
requires the involvement of parents, mentors, community leaders, business
partners, school staff and teachers.
What kind of
leadership do we need?
During these times of changes and challenges, I call upon
our national and state leaders to use the following filter as they review the
above policies:
- Does
the proposal contribute to higher student achievement and provide the
funding necessary for success?
- Does
the proposal boost morale of teachers and school personnel so that they
are highly motivated to deliver the best results for our children?
We need leaders who know how to listen, build consensus,
strengthen teams and create a more positive learning environment. As someone seeking to be your representative
on the school board, I view the job as one where I am responsible for
contributing to the overall success of our children, teachers and schools. Now is the time for seasoned, experienced
leadership to advise and work in collaboration with our Superintendent and school
personnel as well as our entire community on critical policy directions so that
Pinellas schools leverage any policy changes for the highest possible success
of our students.
Will you help our
campaign succeed?
In just 5 days we will have our first major fundraising
deadline of the election year and we need your help to make sure we can run an
effective advertising campaign to nearly 600,000 Pinellas County
voters. Your donation today of $5 or
more will help us show that we are ready to win the August 24th election. If you have the means to donate more, you are
allowed to contribute up to $500 per individual or company. You may contribute online or by mailing your
donation to: Terry Krassner Campaign, 11767
92nd Way N, Largo,
FL 33773.
Thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
Terry
P.S. Be sure to mark your calendar for the August 24, 2010 election, which is only 150 days from tomorrow. Want to have your Pinellas ballot mailed to your home? Just call (727) 464-6788 or click here.
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