(For the most part, all goals continue to be 'secondary' to the implementation of a state-wide assessment program in social studies. These goals from the previous year reflect an update which took place at the Sept. 2009 FASSS-FCSS Board meetings.)
FCSS / FASSS
Position Paper on 2008-09 Legislative Issues
Level One Priorities are those immediately pressing needs that the organization is aggressively seeking to secure legislative support for in the coming session. Level Two Priorities represent longer range goals. These allow FCSS / FASSS to take positions supporting other issues when addressing the main priority of the organization.
RECOMMENDATION ONE: Florida Statute 1008.22 should be amended so as to add social studies as an area for statewide assessment. This law should go into effect no later than 2009.
Current status: The case for this is well known. We would be open to a strictly electronic assessment format to reduce fiscal impact, a sufficient percentage sampling of students in each district as opposed to census testing, and other reasonable compromises. Since the Legislature and Commissioner of Education have both called for rigorous end-of-course assessments similar to those for the N.Y. State Regent’s Diploma, we have lobbied key legislative leaders and D.O.E. officials for the purpose of making the American History high school course the next schedule assessment for high school students in Florida. (Since this time, the Commissioner has moved forward in the development of an End-of-Course high school exam for American History. The state still lacks accountability for social studies in grades K-8.)
Priority Level: One
THE FCSS BOARD OF DIRECTORS VOTED TO IMPLEMENT A SINGLE FOCUS FOR THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ADVOCACY COMMITTEE – PASSAGE OF A STATE-WIDE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM FOR SOCIAL STUDIES. As a result, the goals which follow are presented here as secondary issues which teachers may also wish to support.
RECOMMENDATION TWO: FCSS should work with other civic-minded organizations to conduct a statewide campaign to incorporate social studies as part of the FCAT.
Current Status: As a result of efforts by former Governor Bob Graham, Congressman Lou Frey, Chief Justice Lewis and numerous others bills were introduced in the legislature by House and Senate leaders calling for social studies to become part of FCAT.
Priority Level: Two
RECOMMENDATION THREE: FCSS should work with other civic-minded organizations to conduct a statewide survey of student civic and historical knowledge at the elementary and secondary levels, the results of which should be released to the public and the Commissioner of Education.
Current Status: No such survey or assessment has ever been done with large numbers of students in Florida. Sample questions should be based upon N.A.E.P. assessment items and other previously known surveys so that some comparison might be made. Consideration should be given to institutionalizing such a survey for the purpose of annually bringing civic literacy to the state’s attention each September. When possible, the data should be disaggregated by region, gender, grade level, and race/ethnicity. Results should be shared with the Florida’s legislators, various media outlets and the Florida Association of Educational Writers.
Priority Level: Two
RECOMMENDATION FOUR: The state should establish the Florida Commission on Civic Education for the purpose of (1) educating students on the importance of citizen involvement in a representative democracy, and for (2) promoting communication and collaboration among organizations in the state that conduct civic education programs.
Current Status: There are now several organizations with state-wide reach that promote civic understanding – The Florida Law Related Education Association and the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship – which make this priority less critical than in the past.
Priority Level: Deleted in Sept. 2009
RECOMMENDATION FIVE: FCSS should continue to take the appropriate steps to communicate with NCSS and other national organizations as well as individual members of Congress on the urgent need for state comparative data regarding this year’s NAEP Civics and US History assessments.
Current Status: Senator Lamar Alexander has for the third time filed legislation (S860, S2721, & S1414) to provide for a pilot assessment of up to ten states to be compared to the national profile which will be obtained from periodic NAEP History and Civics assessments. NCSS during the 110th Congress was able to have Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) introduce an identical measure (H6525) in the House of Representatives for which she is securing co-sponsors. As no action was taken on these measures during both sessions of the last Congress, they will have to be reintroduced for a FOURTH time in the 111th Congress when it convenes in 2009. (Since this time, S659 has been filed for the FOURTH time to underwhelming national fanfare.)
Priorit Level: One
RECOMMENDATION SIX: We recommend inclusion of “social studies” in the state Student Progression Law (F.S. 1008.25).
Current Status:
- Current law requires educators to review a student’s performance in Reading, Writing, Math, and Science when being promoted from one grade level to the next. Moreover, should a student be found to be deficient in his/her performance in of these core subject areas, parents must be notified and an opportunity for remediation of that content needs to be made available to the student.
- To permit the current law to state that students’ performance in elementary social studies need not even be considered for promotion purposes – when reading, writing, math and science must be – is an intolerable and ominous development for the future civic health of our state and nation. Students must complete three years of successful Social Studies instruction in the Middle Grades and must be remediated before being promoted to the next grade.
Priority Level: Two
RECOMMENDATION SEVEN: The Legislature should require that the Florida Department of Education complete a comprehensive survey on the Status of Social Studies Education in Florida.
Current Status: Due to the lack of data pertaining to student performance in the area of Social Studies and with regard to how districts implement the many legislative mandates under Florida Statute: 1003.42 (Required instruction.), it is imperative that the Florida legislature require the Department of Education to undertake a district analysis of the status of social studies. Two years ago the legislature pass a measure to complete a study on Physical Education throughout the state.
Priority Level: Tabled in Sept. 2009
RECOMMENDATION EIGHT: The length of time for which an ESOL student’s F.C.A.T. score should be used for accountability purposes should be extended from two to three years.
Current Status: (TABLED by FCSS in the past although supported by FASSS ) Research states that it takes six or seven years for a student whose native language is different from English to be proficient in reading and writing in our language. Federal guidelines for No Child Left Behind use a three year period of time before such scores are factored into accountability measurements. Florida’s accountability provisions should not be more punitive than federal standards.
Priority Level: Two
RECOMMENDATION NINE: We urge the repeal of the Special Teachers Are Recognized Program.
Current Status: By another statute, Districts must provide differentiated salaries to instructional personal. The S.T.A.R. program was hastily devised and there are not enough reliable or valid measures of student performance to implement it. Through its enactment the legislature has added to the burdens of districts.
Priority Level: Deleted in Sept. 2009
Other:
Possibly Recommend the Establishment of a Veteran’s Curriculum Taskforce to consolidate, develop and promote instructional resources related to Florida Statute 1003,42.
(Since this time, FASSS and FCSS Boards have approved the concept of expressing our official concern with the Florida Department of Education on the Middle School Integrated Certification requirements.)
Showing posts with label FASSS/FCSS Legislative Commitee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FASSS/FCSS Legislative Commitee. Show all posts
Friday, October 2, 2009
Thursday, May 1, 2008
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
● 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
Legislative Committee Responsibilities
FCSS legislative committee members meet as a group during the quarterly board meetings that are generally held in the Tampa and Orlando areas. “Grassroots” members, however, can serve the committee effectively in their districts and can communicate via email. Below are suggested ways legislative committee members can be of help to FCSS. Contact Jack Bovee at boveeja@collier.k12.fl.us for ways that YOU can become involved.
● Develop a "How to Lobby Effectively" packet as well as an informational "FCSS Legislative Objectives" pamphlet in conjunction with the legislative committee. The pamphlet would be distributed to FCSS Board members to leave with legislators when they lobby/visit with them.
● Maintain a list of local district council presidents and communicate our goals to them
● Develop a list of contact persons of state-wide educational, affiliated groups who share our mission, such as FGA, FCEE, FLREA, Holocaust groups, FHS, etc.
● Develop a list of non-educational groups whom we should initiate contact and lobby to support our legislative goals (such as various Veteran's Groups, patriotic organizations such as D.A.R., Eagle Forum, League of Women Voters, etc.)
● Lobby legislators in our home districts and communicate written reports to the Legislative Chair as to the progress
● Legislators tell us they ‘never hear from social studies teachers’. Consider inviting legislators or their top aides to your classroom or to speak to your local council about governmental issues. While it would be inappropriate to lobby them in front of students, you can offer to supply them with information concerning the state of civic education in Florida afterward. This would be especially appropriate during the “Take A Legislator Back to School Week” which occurs in mid September each year! (See sample press release on this web page.) The FCSS legislative committee has certificates and tokens of appreciation for those teachers who do invite legislators into their classrooms and file reports with FCSS Board Members or Chairperson Jack Bovee.
● Lobby key legislators outside of our local districts with regard to FCSS legislative initiatives
● Conduct "How to Lobby Effectively for FCSS GOALS Workshop" at the October Conference. Make sure we enlist 'ad hoc' committee members in strategic districts to help with visitations to key legislators.
● Write articles to the newspapers in key communities about our goals. Copies of all such editorials should go to Jack Bovee and Dave Sigerson. Use boveeja@collier.k12.fl.us
● Write editorials and publish updates in TRENDS to communicate to our members.
● Develop a "How to Lobby Effectively" packet as well as an informational "FCSS Legislative Objectives" pamphlet in conjunction with the legislative committee. The pamphlet would be distributed to FCSS Board members to leave with legislators when they lobby/visit with them.
● Maintain a list of local district council presidents and communicate our goals to them
● Develop a list of contact persons of state-wide educational, affiliated groups who share our mission, such as FGA, FCEE, FLREA, Holocaust groups, FHS, etc.
● Develop a list of non-educational groups whom we should initiate contact and lobby to support our legislative goals (such as various Veteran's Groups, patriotic organizations such as D.A.R., Eagle Forum, League of Women Voters, etc.)
● Lobby legislators in our home districts and communicate written reports to the Legislative Chair as to the progress
● Legislators tell us they ‘never hear from social studies teachers’. Consider inviting legislators or their top aides to your classroom or to speak to your local council about governmental issues. While it would be inappropriate to lobby them in front of students, you can offer to supply them with information concerning the state of civic education in Florida afterward. This would be especially appropriate during the “Take A Legislator Back to School Week” which occurs in mid September each year! (See sample press release on this web page.) The FCSS legislative committee has certificates and tokens of appreciation for those teachers who do invite legislators into their classrooms and file reports with FCSS Board Members or Chairperson Jack Bovee.
● Lobby key legislators outside of our local districts with regard to FCSS legislative initiatives
● Conduct "How to Lobby Effectively for FCSS GOALS Workshop" at the October Conference. Make sure we enlist 'ad hoc' committee members in strategic districts to help with visitations to key legislators.
● Write articles to the newspapers in key communities about our goals. Copies of all such editorials should go to Jack Bovee and Dave Sigerson. Use boveeja@collier.k12.fl.us
● Write editorials and publish updates in TRENDS to communicate to our members.
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Tallahassee Legislative Symposium Invitation - 2007
January 6, 2007
Dear Supporter of Citizenship Education,
The Florida Council for Social Studies is hosting a regional conference Saturday Feb.3 at Tallahassee Community College for all social studies teachers of north Florida. We need your help and we need your advice. The mission of the Florida Council for the Social Studies is citizenship education. Although the current Sunshine State Standards provide objectives for citizenship education, the reality is that for too many students in too many school districts, citizenship education is not a priority.
We would like to have the opportunity to share some of our ideas and utilize your expertise to make citizenship education a priority for our students.
Please join us at a reception to share your thoughts and advice
Friday, February 2, 2007
4:30 to 6:30 pm
Mary Brogan Museum
Lottery Room
350 S. Duval Street
Tallahassee Florida
The Florida Council for the Social Studies looks forward to
meeting you.
Sincerely,
Sally S. Day
Director Emeritus
Florida Council for the Social Studies
Please R.S.V.P.
sasday@tampabay.rr.com or 727.531.0857
Dear Supporter of Citizenship Education,
The Florida Council for Social Studies is hosting a regional conference Saturday Feb.3 at Tallahassee Community College for all social studies teachers of north Florida. We need your help and we need your advice. The mission of the Florida Council for the Social Studies is citizenship education. Although the current Sunshine State Standards provide objectives for citizenship education, the reality is that for too many students in too many school districts, citizenship education is not a priority.
We would like to have the opportunity to share some of our ideas and utilize your expertise to make citizenship education a priority for our students.
Please join us at a reception to share your thoughts and advice
Friday, February 2, 2007
4:30 to 6:30 pm
Mary Brogan Museum
Lottery Room
350 S. Duval Street
Tallahassee Florida
The Florida Council for the Social Studies looks forward to
meeting you.
Sincerely,
Sally S. Day
Director Emeritus
Florida Council for the Social Studies
Please R.S.V.P.
sasday@tampabay.rr.com or 727.531.0857
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