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The Florida Senate has agreed to spend $200m on dedicated teacher pay increases, moving closer to reaching an agreement on K-12 school funding. The amount falls just short of the House's preference of nearly $202m, but it is a departure from the Senate's original position. The House had already agreed to spend $290m for the safe schools portion of the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP), matching the Senate's plan. However, there are still significant differences between the two chambers on various education programs. The Senate wants $49.5m for the Florida School for Competitive Academics, while the House has only allocated $271,000. Rep. Josie Tomkow and Sen. Keith Perry will meet again to discuss the budget conference, and any unresolved issues will be taken to the full Appropriations Committee.

 

Florida Politics

The expiration in fall 2023 of federal COVID-19 emergency childcare funding is creating a ”childcare crisis,″ some fear, as centers face challenges including staff shortages, program closures, and rising tuition rates. According to survey results released by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, 56% of center directors and family childcare owners or operators said they were under enrolled based on their current capacity. The reasons for under enrollment included staffing shortages (89%), low pay (77%), and lack of affordability for families (66%). About 36% of directors, owners, and operators said they were paying more in rent compared to six months earlier, while nearly half (49%) reported paying more for liability insurance. “The results make it clear, significant public investment in child care is needed urgently to ensure programs can retain qualified educators and remain open to serve children and families,” says Michelle Kang, CEO of NAEYC. Relatedly, the U.S. Department of Education this week released revised guidance for how schools, districts, and states can use federal Title I funding to expand access to high-quality preschool for three to five year-olds in a range of settings.

 

K12 Dive

After 11 months of negotiations, the Broward County School Board and the Broward Teachers Union have finally reached an agreement on a new contract. The board approved the contract with a 6 to 3 vote, but not without controversy. Board member Torey Alston accused the union of endorsing board members who supported the package and colluding with unnamed colleagues. The union president, Anna Fusco, denied these allegations. The contract includes a raise of 3.42 to 4.56% for teachers, 10 planning days, and a starting salary of $50,266. The district is concerned about sustainability as federal COVID relief funds, which account for more than half of the salary raise, will end in September. Superintendent Dr. Peter Licata is also working on initiatives to attract more college students to become teachers. Despite the challenges, the contract is seen as a positive step towards competitiveness and retaining quality educators in the district.

 

NBC Miami

Marguerite Roza and Laura Anderson of the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University argue that most school boards have little experience with deep budget cuts. The typical district has seen a decade of solid budget growth, capped off with a hefty infusion of federal relief funds. This presents a perfect storm when relief funds dry up, they suggest, as enrollments continue to fall and districts must sort through commitments they made to new staff and inflation-era pay hikes. "Too often, we’re finding that the majority of trustees in these meetings aren’t engaging on budget discussions beyond a generic let’s protect students statement. Too rarely do trustees investigate different budget options, weigh tradeoffs or explore expected impacts using student data," they conclude.

 

The 74 (Online)

A watered-down version of House legislation that critics called bringing back "child labor" cleared a Senate committee Monday after being heavily amended, satisfying some labor advocates who supported the changes. "When we look at the product as it came over from the House, with truly draconian elimination of labor laws that have been on the books since 1986, this is an area where we have to break with tradition, and we support this bill," said Rich Templin, director of politics and public policy for the Florida AFL-CIO. The amendment by Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, the Senate sponsor to the comparable bill, softens Employment and Curfew of Minors (HB 49), offered by Rep. Linda Chaney, R-St. Pete Beach.

 

TCPalm

The U.S. Department of Education has released guidance for how states, local educational agencies (LEAs), and schools can use Title I funds to expand access to high-quality preschool in a range of settings, including schools, Head Start, and community-based organizations. The guidance encourages schools across the nation to better set up kindergarten to be a bridge between the early years and the early grades. The Biden-Harris administration has secured historic educational investments, including an additional $1.9bn in annual funding for the Title I program since 2021. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona championed the announcement on Monday during a visit to an early childhood center in New Jersey. "High-quality, early learning opportunities are proven bridges to later academic success and every child deserves access,” Cardona said.

 

Ed.gov

Two days before the end of Black History Month, the Florida Commissioner of Education’s African American History Task Force met in Tallahassee. Task Force members were given less than a week's notice and it was the first they had heard about the meeting in six months. The meeting, which took place at Florida A&M University's campus, discussed the significance of Black History Month. Task Force member Dr. Brenda L. Walker expressed her surprise at the lack of communication and planning, stating that the Task Force had previously handled Black History Month differently. The Task Force's website still features content about celebrating Black History Month 2023, which Dr. Walker believes needs to be updated. Despite attempts to contact Task Force Chair Glen Gilzean, he did not respond to inquiries. Gilzean denied that the meeting was the first time the Task Force had acknowledged Black History Month 2024. The Florida Department of Education, to which further questions were referred, has not responded to inquiries since mid-January. The Task Force has faced criticism for its lack of planning and preparation. Two more meetings are scheduled prior to the Summer Institute, which they hope educators will attend.

 

Tampa Bay Fl News

Nan Morrison, president of the Council for Economic Education, discusses results from the advocacy group's latest "Survey of the States" poll, which examined financial education and literacy across the country. The results reveal alarming findings, highlighting the need for improved financial education. "We have a long way to go in terms of ensuring that all Americans have the necessary financial knowledge and skills," Morrison says.

 

CNBC

As legislation that would allow volunteer chaplains in Florida public schools nears passage, The Satanic Temple says it's looking forward to the opportunity. The House has already approved its version of the legislation. The Senate bill got through its final committee earlier this week. First Amendment advocates and others are questioning how local school districts will put the chaplain program into practice without running afoul of concerns over religious freedom. The measure authorizes school districts and charter schools to adopt a policy to provide support, services, and programs to students. It requires parental consent and background checks for students to meet with a chaplain.

 

TCPalm