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Florida PTA
everychild:onevoice
Florida PTA
Legislative Update
March 5, 2010
As the legislature
convened for its
2010 session, the
talk that dominated
education was class
size, end of course
exams, teacher
tenure and Race to
the Top.
The senate class
size bill cleared
its final committee
of reference mostly
along party lines
and is headed to the
floor. It will need
a 3/5ths (24 out of
40) vote to pass the
senate. The House
bill is also on the
calendar. It would
need 72 (out of 120)
votes to pass the
House. If the
measure makes the
ballot in November,
it has to pass by a
60% majority.
Florida PTA
submitted written
testimony to the
committee on class
size and the end of
course exams. Please
find copies of the
testimony at:
The first week of
the 2010 legislative
session also saw
further warnings
from the Speaker of
the House that the
state was facing a
significant budget
shortfall anywhere
between $1.1 and
$3.2 billion dollars
for the short term
and a $5 billion
plus shortfall in
2011-2012. He warns
that this and other
factors, such as the
cessation of the
federal stimulus
funding, may not
allow enough of an
increase in
education funding to
"avoid significant
reductions in
education services
or programs." The
Speaker also stated
that there would be
"no new increased
fees or taxes."
The news that
Florida was one of
sixteen states that
had been selected as
finalists for the
federal Race to the
Top grant, was
greeted with
enthusiasm and
relief as the
winners will be
announced in April,
prior to the end of
session and if
Florida wins, it may
very well help patch
the budget for this
year, a temporary
fix that will not
address the very
real long term
funding needs of
education.
Please find bill
updates at the
following links:
Thank You
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