2020 Florida Ed Policy Bill Tracker
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
DeSantis announces new Florida school standards without Common Core
Florida students will read more classical literature and learn math differently, according to summary documents.
tampabay.com
Not welcome: Gay students, parents are denied service in Florida’s publicly funded voucher schools | Commentary
Once again, Orlando Sentinel reporters peered behind the curtains of Florida’s unchecked voucher-school system to see how $1 billion worth of public money is being used. And once again, what they found was ugly.
orlandosentinel.com
Gay-friendly companies financially support anti-LGBTQ Florida private schools
Florida's largest voucher program is funded by contributions from corporations, including many that publicly support the LGBTQ community or vow to make employment decisions without regard to sexual orientation. But an Orlando Sentinel investigation found at least 156 schools that take vouchers have....
orlandosentinel.com
Jamie Grant-backed 'union busting' bill clears first committee
Grant says his effort would protect workers; unions disagree.
floridapolitics.com
Week 1: 2020 FL Legislature on Public Ed Policy bills - Fund Education Now
Week 1: Florida Legislative Session (1.14-17, 2020) Here are the public education policy bills that moved. You’ll note that many bills are pushed through committees by both parties, often with the hope of gaining bargaining chips for other bills. Pay attention to the general policy themes like vou...
fundeducationnow.org
Teachers belong on state Board of Education | Commentary
In a guest column, a Flagler County teacher laments the lack of representation for teachers on the board that decides Florida education policy.
orlandosentinel.com
