FCSS Lobbyist Job Description

The following will be the responsibilities of the FCSS Lobbyist position


● Be in attendance at selected FCSS Board Meetings

● Familiarize the FCSS Board with the names of key legislators, especially those who serve on education and appropriation committees and others who support education issues

● Report to the Legislative chairperson on a regular basis, including quarterly written reports and summaries of pre-filed bills and weekly reports during the legislative session. All reports shall be composed by electronic means for distribution to FCSS Board Members and FASSS Officers.

● Maintain an appointment log containing information as to date, items discussed, person met with, and outcomes of all such meetings with legislators, Department of Education personnel, or other educational lobbyists. The appointment log should be available to the Legislative Chair when requested.

● Establish a networking relationship with other educational lobbyists to compare agendas and to, whenever possible, seek common cause on educational goals.

● Follow educational issues related to all levels of public and private education, Pre-K through post secondary, as well as issues related to retirement and sick leave for public employee, etc.

● Provide a list of legislative committee members for FCSS. It is suggested that this be annotated with notes as to who are key legislators, who are strong supporters of our goals, who may be opposed to our goals, etc.

● Make recommendations to FCSS to improve the visibility of the organization with the legislature and gain the support of legislators to reach the goals established by FCSS and the FCSS Legislative Committee.

● Help FCSS to gain support for legislative changes and goals of the FCSS.

● Coordinate with legislators the pre-filing of bills to help FCSS obtain its goals.

The primary goal for FCSS for the 2003-2004-2005 Legislature Session is to add Social Studies to the state student progression plan.

Secondary goals are:
- the eventual inclusion of Social Studies on FCAT
- continued support for incentives for districts and teachers regarding the AP program. (Weighted FTE for districts and financial incentives for teachers.)
- continued categorical funding for affiliated groups such as the FCEE and Florida Humanities Council
- funding for curriculum development in the areas of mandated curriculum areas such as Veterans contributions, Hispanic American contributions, African-American History, Holocaust education, etc.
- the establishment of a state-wide report by the D.O.E. on the status of Social Studies in Florida.
- establishment of a Commission on Civic Education to devise a plan for the improvement of civic literacy to be patterned after states such as Louisiana and to have the equivalent funding of similar state commissions on the Holocaust and the African American Task Force.
- the revision of the Social Studies Sunshine State Standards