A devious plan to crush public education in Florida
Our kids and teachers need us now more than ever. Senate Bill 6 and House Bill 7189 will destroy any chance we have of attracting and keeping the best and brightest teachers for our kids.ChSB 6 sponsored by Sen. John Thrasher, Republican Party Chairman, has passed the Senate. ChHB 7189 passed its first committee Thursday, March 25th, after teachers and parents were cut off during comments. Leadership prohibited debate and refused to even consider any amendments.
Everyone knows the example of the child actor who is responsible for supporting his entire family. Because of high-stakes testing, the entire burden of whether or not your school gets its money and A grade rests on our children's slender shoulders. SB6 and HB7189 is that concept on steroids. The loving relationship between teacher and child will become an anxious teacher pressing for perfection from our kids because his or her salary depends on whether your child delivers.
Think about it: Our children forced to bear the weight of delivering only the highest level of performance on FCAT. Nothing less will do. The adults in their lives - principals, superintendents, school board members- reduced to wait anxiously off-stage to learn whether these kids did well enough to deliver the money. The adults will not be allowed to weigh in on the evaluation or retention of teachers. Everything rests solely on the performance of your child and my child on the highest of high-stakes tests.
Our kids continue to be the collateral damage of this insanity. The senators and representatives that voted for these draconian and some say unconstitutional bills, are the problem.
Legislators have aggressively pushed the idea that this is a "union-busting" bill. Our lawmakers need to know two things:
1. We are parents. We are not the union.
2. We don't like this bill.
We, the parents, don't approve of the way these bills have been shoved down our throats. It's unacceptable to stop the public from speaking at committee hearings, just to shut down opposition.
- Here's what these bills take away from our kids:
- Local school boards and parents will lose any control over education policies regarding teacher evaluations.
- Eliminates due process and places all new teachers on annual contracts which may be non renewed for any reason without recourse.
- Implementing new "teacher quality" rewards means an additional 5% cut to every district in the state - stripping $50 million from Duval, $63 million from Orange, and $15 million from - you get the picture. $900 million statewide funding will be cut off the top of the approved budget.
- Race to the Top federal funds will not offset the cost of SB 6 / HB 7189.
- Florida will be the only state in the nation to base 50% of teacher evaluations on standardized tests.
- Creating these new end of year tests will cost local districts millions to develop and are completely unfunded.
- Permits non renewal of a teaching CERTIFICATE if a teacher cannot demonstrate student gains in 4 of the 5 preceding years. Who will choose to teach the lowest performing students?
- Prohibits recognition for years of service or advanced degrees in determining teachers' salaries. All incentives for teachers to receive advanced degrees are eliminated. What does this say to our kids about the value of education?
- The incredibly successful National Board Certification program is all but eliminated.
- Programs that address regions with critical teacher shortages and provide loan forgiveness for teachers willing to serve in low-performing schools are eliminated.
- Private schools getting vouchers will see a huge leap in money, while public school funding will face cuts. Private voucher schools are not required to conform to any of these provisions, including FCAT.
Governor Crist said recently that SB6/HB 7189, "focuses on trying to help children and encouraging better teachers," when in fact these bills do just the opposite. Senator Thrasher, the sponsor of SB6, is inspired and aided by former Governor Jeb Bush. His actions combined with the fact that he is the Florida Republican Party Chair, make it appear that he has allowed political ideology to trump all logic and common sense.
We need an onslaught to break through this sludge. Call, write and tell your friends about this. Nothing short of outrage and massive numbers of phone calls will do. Our teachers and kids deserve so much better.
Tell these lawmakers that their actions speak louder than words. We're watching and if they don't vote no on SB 6/HB 7189, we'll use our vote against them at their next election.
Call Governor Crist 850-488-4441
Call House Speaker Larry Cretul at 850-488-1450 / District office 352 873 6564
Call Senate President Jeff Atwater - 850-487-5229
Visit your County page on our website and call your Representatives.
Tell them to vote NO on HB 7189 when they vote this week.
View our latest video update:
Let's let our lawmakers try this "Accountability" shoe on for size. Take a look at how your Senators voted on SB and how House committee members voted on HB 7189:
Senate Bill 6
17 senators voted NO on SB6 siding with our kids and teachers. Please thank them, especially Paula Dockery, Charles Dean, Dennis Jones, and Alex Villalobos that broke with their party despite possible retribution:
- Dave Aronberg, D 27 Greenacres 850-487-5356
- Larcenia Bullard, D 39 Miami 850-487-5127
- Charles Dean, R 3 Inverness 850-487-5017
- Ted Deutch, D 30 Delray Beach 850-487-5091
- Paula Dockery, R 15 Lakeland 850-487-5040
- Dan Gelber, D 35 Miami Beach 850-487-5121
- Tony Hill, D 1 Jacksonville 850-487-5024
- Dennis Jones, R 13 Seminole 850-487-5065
- Arthenia Joyner, D 18 Tampa 850-487-5059
- Charlie Justice, D 16 St. Petersburg 850-487-5075
- Al Lawson, D 6 Tallahassee 850-487-5004
- Jeremy Ring, D 32 Margate 850-487-5094
- Gary Siplin, D 19 Pine Hills 850-4875190
- Eleanor Sobel, D 31 Hollywood 850-487-5097
- Alex Villalobos, R 38 Miami 850-487-5130
- Frederica Wilson, D 33 Miami Gardens 850-487-5116
21 senators voted YES and are hurting our children and teachers.
- J.D. Alexander, R 17 Lake Wales 850-487-5044
- Thad Altman, R 24 Melbourne 850-487-5053
- Jeff Atwater, R, 25 North Palm Beach 850-487-5100
- Carey Baker, R 20 Eustis 850-487-5014
- Mike Bennett, R 21 Bradenton 850-487-5078
- Lee Constantine, R 22 Altamonte Springs 850-487-5050
- Victor Crist, R 12 Tampa 850-487-5068
- Nancy Detert, R 23 Venice 850-487-5081
- Alex Dias de la Portilla, R 36 Miami-Dade 850-487-5109
- Steve Wise, R 5 Jacksonville 850-487-5027
- John Thrasher, R 8 Jacksonville 850-487-5030
- Rhonda Storms, R 10 Brandon 850-487-5072
- Garrett Richter, R 37 Naples 850-487-5124
- Durell Peaden, R 2 Crestview 850-487-5000
- Mike Fasano, R 11 New Port Richey 850-487-5062
- Don Gaetz, R 4 Destin 850-487-5009
- Rudy Garcia, R 40 Hialeah 850-487-5106
- Mike Haridopolos, R 26 Melbourne 850-487-5056
- Evelyn Lynn, R 7 Daytona Beach 850-487-5033
- Joe Negron, R 28 Palm City 850-487-5088
- Steve Oelrich, R 14 Gainesville 850-487-5020
Absent for the vote:
- Andy Gardner, R, 9 Orlando
- Nan Rich, D 34 Sunrise
House Bill 7189
6 representatives voted NO on HB 7189 and came down on the side of our kids and teachers. Please thank them, especially MICHAEL WEINSTEIN, who broke with his party and faces political retribution:
- Dwight Bullard, D 108 Miami
- Mia Jones, D 14 Jacksonville
- Marty Kiar, D 97 Parkland
- Kevin Rader, D 78 Boynton Beach
- Elaine Schwartz, D 99 Hollywood
- Michael Weinstein, R 19 Orange Park 850-488-1304
9 representatives voted YES in committee and are hurting our children and teachers.
- Rachel Burgin, R 56 Tampa
- Marti Coley, R 7 Mariana
- Anitere Flores, R 114 Miami
- Erik Fresen, R 111 Miami
- Eddy Gonzalez, R 102 Hialeah Gardens
- John Legg, R 46 Port Richey
- Scott Plakon, R 37 Longwood
- Kelli Stargel, R 64 Lakeland
- Will Weatherford, R 61 Wesley Chapel