Page 8 - MDLC_Legislative Action2015_F

Amend F.S. 1008.36 related to Florida School Recognition Program requiring FLDOE to distribute funds to eligible schools only after all school letter grades are released. Fully fund the development of end-of-course (EOC). Oppose the imposition of unfunded, state-mandated expenditures. ACCOUNTABILITY REFORM: Revise the current assessment system and accountability system to: • Provide proper feld testing in Florida of the entire new state assessment, not simply sample questions, ensuring the statistical requirements of validity and reliability; • Provide a two-year transition of grading districts and schools to allow for feld testing and setting appropriate baseline assessment data; • Authorize alternate methods for assessing learning and achievement for special populations such as ESE and English Language Learners (ELL) students; • Ensure two years of language acquisition for ELL students; • Suspend accountability consequences for another year; • Provide Florida’s statewide assessments in multiple languages as allowed by federal regulations; • Eliminate the practice of using student performance on a single standardized test as the sole basis of student and school performance; and • Perform a comprehensive review of the entire assessment program. Ensure charter and private schools receiving public monies adhere to the same teacher certifcation, student placement, and progression policies to ensure compliance with federal and state accountability requirements. CAPITAL FUNDING: Establish a long-term, stable, and recurring revenue source suffcient to fulfll the state’s educational facility needs. Restore the allowable discretionary voted capital outlay millage by .10 mills annually until restoration of the full 2 mills. Oppose any diversion of Local Discretionary Capital Outlay levy revenue from traditional public schools to charter schools. Fully fund the Public Education Capital Outlay Program that involves construction and maintenance programs for public school districts and ensure that school districts receive their fair share. SCHOOL READINESS: Support state funding for a high-quality, full-day Voluntary Pre-K (VPK) program. CHARTER SCHOOLS: Repeal the requirement to use the standard charter contract. Oppose any changes to current requirements regarding charter conversion of traditional public schools that dilute the role of parents, teachers, and community stakeholders. Support capital funding for charter schools that: • Creates neither a reduction of funding to traditional public schools in operating or capital funding nor a requirement for additional taxing mandate on the local school district; • Requires public input; and • Protects taxpayers’ investment ensuring that capital funding be spent only on assets that can be returned to the public school district. 8