Dear Teachers: Do what you do best, be there for our kids
Help us advocate for a safe, efficient, high quality system of public education that works for the success of every Florida child.
ADVOCACY
Your voice has power. Learn the facts about education reform policy and share your knowledge with others. Florida’s public school children need an army of advocates who value high quality learning. Together we can share our vision, speak up for our children and make dedication to public education a litmus test for elected office.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Fund Education Now’s Annual Education Report Card gives voters a non-partisan, comprehensive assessment of whether or not the Governor and legislators support and pass policies that uphold their Constitutional duty to Florida’s public school children as stated in Article IX, section 1 of the state constitution.
KNOWLEDGE
Florida public education has been subjected hundreds of drastic policy changes over the past 15 years. Effective advocacy means understanding policies and historical context. Fund Education Now provides easy tools to help advocates develop expertise and confidence about the issues.
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
Florida is ground zero for education reform legislation. Ideas that don’t pass one session are brought up again the following year. Issues such as high stakes testing, rigid teacher accountability measures, mandatory retention, unfunded mandates, diluting the authority of unions and school boards, expanding for-profit charter school chains and the promulgation of private school vouchers funded by diverted tax dollars are on-going efforts that are expanded by the Florida legislature each session.
Fund Education Now supports education policy legislation that does the following:
- What is Model legislation?
Model legislation is a template for a bill designed by education reformers, business leaders and lobbyists who work with state legislators to promote, sponsor and pass the bill.
- Why are Florida-style education reforms spreading across the states?
In order to maximize profits from reforming and privatizing public education, it’s essential that as many states as possible adopt reform legislation as quickly as possible. - Federal ESSA
Congress finally passed the ESSA, bringing the era of President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) to its much deserved close. - FERPA & Student Privacy
“Privacy is rarely lost in one fell swoop. It is usually eroded over time, little bits dissolving almost imperceptibly until we finally begin to notice how much is gone.”
NEWS, TWITTER & TAKE ACTION
From Now On - Douglas Anderson Theatre Department
Across the country, theatre productions from Broadway to school musicals are being postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In early March, stude...
youtube.com
All Florida public schools to remain closed through at least May 1
Commissioner Richard Corcoran announced during a conference call with the state's school superintendents that school closures in Florida has been extended until May 1.
wtxl.com
As Florida’s economy crashes, DeSantis says he’s going ahead with $543 million in tax refunds for corporations
The Republican-controlled Florida Legislature committed to the corporate tax refunds – which will total $543.2 million – two years ago, long before lawmakers had any idea how big they would be. But the state hasn’t distributed them yet and doesn’t have to until May 1. Some activists want the...
orlandosentinel.com
Florida coronavirus cases are growing fast. Here’s what that means.
Experts say the epidemic in Florida is already past the point of easy containment.
tampabay.com
Florida governor blocks Miami Herald, Tampa Bay Times from coronavirus press conference
Mary Ellen Klas, representing the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times, was denied entrance to the Florida Capitol on Saturday for Gov. Ron DeSantis' press briefing. No substantive reason was given.
sun-sentinel.com
