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Home My WebLink AboutExhibit2009 State Legislative Program For further information contact: iraida R. Mendez-Cartaya, Assistant Superintendent Mobile: 305-606-6553 imendez@dadeschools.net Lisa M. Martinez, Director Mobile: 786-525-2218 Irnmarfinez@dadeschools.net i Miami -Dade County Public Schools Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Grants Administration, and Community Services 1450 N.E. 2nd Avenue, Suite 931 Miami, FL 33132 305-995-1497 • FAX 305-995-3088 www.dadeschools.net FUNDING FOR EDUCATION Fulfill commitment made to hold school district operational and capital funding harmless from the impact of property tax reform and budget shortfalls by funding student enrollment at minimally 2008-2009 levels of $6,968.29. Conduct an impartial third -party study of the Florida Price Level Index to reflect the cost of housing, insurance, and transportation rather than wages. Delay the implementation of the Class Size Amendment at the classroom level until 2010-2011. Extend the voter -approved operating millage authority from four (4) years to ten (10) years. Allocate additional funding for low -performing schools for professional development and mentoring opportunities for both administrative and instructional staffs. (Continued...) FUNDING FOR EDUCATION Implement the following strategies to mitigate education budget shortfalls: • Reallocate funds that normally would revert back to the state's General Revenue Fund due to lower - than -anticipated student enrollment; Reduce or eliminate School Recognition awards; • Institute a moratorium on new programs; • Enforce a moratorium on unfunded mandates; • Provide flexibility in the use of all appropriated funds; • Use Working Capital Trust Fund to avoid further reductions to education; and • Explore the feasibility of reducing the mandatory Florida Retirement System (FRS) contribution rate on behalf of employees. Change reporting date for counties to submit a final adjusted property tax roll to the Florida Department of Revenue from April to September 1 or impose a deadline for local property appraisers to certify final tax roll prior to April. Fund School Recognition, if at all, separate from the District Discretionary Lottery. Permit school districts to borrow from the Florida Retirement Service pension program at the carry rate of interest earned on its short-term holdings for up to nine months with a first lien on property tax receipts and local operating millage levy received in the fiscal year to provide insulation from dependency on public markets during disrupted periods. POLICY STATEMENTS Ensure that public workforce education programs, affected public schools, and school districts are authorized to provide Supplemental Education Services (SES) consistent with federal regulations. Oppose legislation that subverts local control of local school boards and superintendents. Support maximum flexibility in the use of categorical funds. Maintain the integrity of the FEFP and equity of funding among school districts. Oppose the imposition of unfunded, state -mandated expenditures. Support increased accountability measures for all publicly - funded school -choice options. Oppose voucher programs that lack equitable and sufficient accountability measures. Oppose any prescribed expenditure requirement such as the "65 percent solution" as a mandate in the Florida Constitution; further, oppose any such legislation, unless established as a spending goal and the definition of "classroom -related" expenditures includes all "instructional support" expenditures. Repeal the Florida Schools of Excellence Commission. CAPITAL FUNDING Support state funding for a high-quality, full-day Voluntary Pre -K (VPK) program under the Florida Department of Provide unrestricted flexibility to pay for property and casualty Education. insurance out of capital funds. Appose legislation that breaks up large school districts. Amend the Classrooms for Kids (class -size reduction capital outlay) allocation formula for capital outlay funding to reflect Maintain the current dual delivery system of post -secondary actual capital outlay need and the intent of the constitutional programs. amendment. Oppose the deletion of impact fees unless replaced with Restore the Local Discretionary Capital Outlay levy to 2 mills. another revenue source. ,r t e any attempt to equalize tiff i� vital outlay CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS yn Oppose legislation that redui programs e gi eeriication require - r k-` " s- illation that would limit offering ftd for English for Speak e Other La�ages (ESOL) In teachers., , school students. BUSINESS OP a4T/OIVS 4 1.t to funding for the expansion of the 1 annect in our school a s ' Program Provide aft g5l eaat�dii ,a is ncts:thr� Florida " InRi MAR Re. I d era ..�� " �°'n � _ _ _20>J9"Sate Legislative Pro ram fre 'Toe urther on�ia to Miami -Dade County Public Schools Miltaye tt , _ " giving our students the world 2009 Federal Legislative Program 171t" Congress t of our stladents are: empowered to _lead r&_ responsible clt�zeins. As :the 44th - ir first congressional session together, we r commitment to our nation's children by ucation Act (No Child Left Behind) • Head Start dicaid..Reimbursement..School Construction I Schools Wdodorce:Preparation >gy;Enhancerne.n s The School Board of Miami -Dade County, Florida Dr Soloman C Stinson, Chair; Dr. Marta Perez, Vice Chair; Agustin J. Barrera; Renier Diaz de la Portilla; Dr Lawrence S Fetdmarr Perla TabareS Hartman, Dr Wilbert " e'o." Holloway;,'Dr Martin Karp, AnaRivas Logan i err +ZZ S r Alberto M . Carvalhor Superinten'denf of Schools For further information contact: Iraida R. Mendez-Cartaya, Assistant Superintendent Mobile: 305-606-6553 imendez@dadeschools.net Lisa M. Martinez, Director Mobile: 786-525-2218 Immartinez@dadeschools.net Miami -Dade County Public Schools Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Grants Administration, and Community Services 1460 N.E. 2nd Avenue, Suite 931 Miami, FL 33132 305-995-1497 • FAX 305-995-3088 www.dadeschools.net FUNDING FOR EDUCATION Increase the federal investment in public education to fully fund the implementation of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Support adequate funding for safe and drug-free school initiatives. Support reform of formula funding disparities as identified by the General Accounting Office report of January, 2002: which hinder funds from reaching the nation's poorest students. Support legislative efforts to require corrective sampling of flawed 2000 Census data to account for an estimated population undercount of at least 1.9% in Miami -Dade County. (Continued...) ELEMENTARYAND SECONDARY ;EDUCATION ACT (NO PHILD LEFT BEHIND) Reauthorize and modify the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (No Child Left Behind Act 2001) to: • recognize student progress in lieu of the current all -or -nothing approach and recognize degrees of progress for schools; • ensure fair accountability by providing flexibility for special education and English Language Learners (ELL's) and other formula adjustments, and by requiring identical tests for Title I and Title 111 students in non-public schools; • ensure standards are meaningful by developing uniform benchmarks of proficiency for all states to use; • reward and retain quality teachers by supporting measures that raise pay for teachers in fields with shortages and in high -needs communities, that create career ladder paths, and that assist with rising housing costs; • allow districts to pay for monitoring and other implementation costs of the Supplemental Education Services out of the required 20% set-aside and ensure that public schools are not unfairly prevented from providing remedial services to students; and • allocate immigrant funds under Title III based on the number of recently -arrived foreign-bom students. HEAD START Increase funding for the newly -reauthorized Head Start Program. IMMIGRATION IMPACT Address the impact of federal immigration policies on local school district funds by supporting the Entrant and Refugee Assistance Program under the Targeted Assistance and Immigrant Education appropriation serving foreign-bom, limited English proficient (LEP) students and their families. Support the DREAM Act or similar legislation that provides immigration relief to a select group of students who grew up in the United States, who have good moral character, and who are pursuing a college education or have enlisted in the military; and give states the authority to determine whether.;, to grant in-state tuition to stater sxdents regardless of =Y " immigration status. ��ln , MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT Oppose any policy revisions to restrict school-based reimbursement for administration expenditures and certain transportation costs for services provided to low-income children with disabilities. SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION Support long-term extension of the Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZAB) program, which provides for interest-free loans to be secured by eligible school districts, and modify program to permit school construction and land acquisition. SECONDARY SCHOOL REFORM Support continued and additional funding for secondary - education reform, including themed, career path -based academies and smaller learning communities. TECHNOLOGYIN SCHOOLS Support continued annual allocations for the Universal Service Fund Program (E -Rate) and streamline refund procedures to provide schools and libraries with affordable access to state-of-the-art networking and telecommunications technology. WORKFORCE PREPARATION Enhance funding and effectiveness of public vocational training, adult education, family literacy, and career academy programs through improved coordination with partner agencies through the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) legislation. Oppose any efforts to reduce funding for vocational and technical education programs authorized through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act. AW ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENTS t I assistance in prove [t the isth:crs law equ .agency new technology ipmer��allowing 'end more time engaged in school policing giving our students the world