Legislative Committee Report for TRENDS - Nov. 2003

The Legislative Committee of FCSS, with the guidance of lobbyist Dave Sigerson, proposed the following goals to the FCSS Board of Directors in May: (1) inclusion of “social studies” in the state Student Progression Law [F.S. 1008.25]; (2) restoration of the former requirement that ALL Florida High School students must successfully complete courses in American History, American Government, Economics and World History or that the ‘fast track’ 18 credit graduation option be rescinded; (3) continued opposition to the plan to dismantle the current configuration of the State Archives, State Museum and State Library by relocating parts of them to Nova University or to other departments within state government; (4) support for the establishment of state-wide comparisons as well as more frequent testing of Civics and American History N.A.E.P. assessments now scheduled for 2006; (5) eventual inclusion of social studies on FCAT by amending Florida Statute 1008.22; and, (6) the establishment of a three-year grace period before the FCAT scores of ESOL students would take effect for purposes of the A+ school grading plan. At the May meeting, the first five goals were approved.

Our number one priority continues to be inclusion of social studies as part of the Student Progression Law. Members will recall that last year these bills passed the entire House and the Senate Education and Criminal Justice Committees without a dissenting vote before the measure died in the Senate Ed. Appropriations Committee (Lisa Carlton, Chairperson). It was rumored this was due to D.O.E. opposition to the bill, fearing it would mark the first step toward a social studies FCAT – something D.O.E. has opposed since the 1980s. FCSS President Fran Holleran and legislative chair Jack Bovee visited Senator Carlton this fall to discuss support for the measure this year. They shared information that last year’s Senate Fiscal Impact report stated the measure would cause little financial impact to the state or districts. The bill has been refilled at HB 0081 and SB 0426 for the coming session. To unravel the possibility of D.O.E. opposition, FASSS president Michael Odom wrote the Commissioner to restate our belief that the bill would NOT require a change to FCAT and to secure a written response from the Department on this year’s bill. As a result of this, we now have written support for the measure from D.O.E.! It has also been adopted as a statewide legislative goal of the Florida League of Women Voters and the Florida Son’s of the American Revolution! All FCSS members are urged to lobby their local representatives for passage of the bill. We still need your help to be more successful this year. Although supportive, we cannot depend upon the SAR and LWV to fight this battle for us!

We predict there will be some changes in the high school ‘fast track’ option. As a result of editorials by legislative committee members on the repeal of the former specific course state graduation requirements, Congressman Jim Davis (Tampa) has filed a bill in Congress that would deny some federal funds to those states that do NOT require American History and American Government for graduation. We’ve also brought this to the attention of NCSS, the National Council for History Education, the Center for Civic Education and other national organizations and have asked them to support his measure. All FCSS members should write or FAX their support to Congressman Davis (FAX 202.225-5652 / ph: 202.225.3376) and copy their local state reps as well. An FCSS survey reveals about one-third of Florida’s districts have not used the flexibility given to them as districts to restore these graduation requirements. Various legislators we’ve spoken to refer to this omission as an ‘error’ and support restoration of our courses. All FCSS members are urged to immediately fax, write and call their legislators on this vital issue!

We don’t foresee the move this session to reallocate resources at the state Museum and Archives, but we must remain vigilant to this possibility. Although we have not attempted to introduce a bill to add Social Studies to FCAT, Senator Margolis has a bill that would add nutritional questions to the 10th grade assessment. We have lobbied the Senator that should additional areas be considered, it is our belief that the area of social studies should be first and foremost the next area and we hope she’ll support us when the time is more favorable. As far as the NAEP issue, the committee has been lobbying heavily with Congressman Davis and Senators Byrd and Alexander about the need to provide equity to Civics and American History in 2006 by providing comparative data on state participation. After all, almost a quarter billion dollars has been spent on revitalizing American History and yet we have no way of determining where the various states compare to a national average in this area. Moreover, the NAEP comparison would be far less costly and intrusive than adding these courses to NCLB. We’re getting some interest on the hill, but the lack of support among several national organizations is hurting this initiative. Recently, Jack Bovee and NCSS Board of Directors members Debbie Gallagher and Marsha Yoder are exerting their influence to have NCSS take a positive position on the issue!

FCSS members are encouraged to monitor legislative issues at ONLINESUNSHINE http://www.leg.state.fl.us/ The committee is also in need of grass roots members who will write and lobby for the above goals. Interested persons should contact Jack Bovee at ph: 239.254.4607 or by email: boveeja@collier.k12.fl.us . Anyone wanting electronic versions of the D.O.E. support letter or Congressman Davis’ bill can also obtain those by contacting Jack.


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