Six forward-thinking and fiscally prudent legislators across party lines have sponsored major pieces of legislation at the request of Children's Campaign, Inc. These two bills will initiate far reaching improvements in Florida's early learning and juvenile justice systems.
Requiring a degreed lead teacher in every Florida pre-kindergarten classroom within a specified time is the focus of legislation sponsored by Senators Mike Fasano (R-New Port Richey) and Nan Rich (D-Sunrise), and Representatives Will Weatherford (R-Wesley Chapel) and Janet Long (D-Seminole).
Initiating juvenile justice reform across Florida is the intent of a sweeping bill sponsored in the Senate by Stephen Wise (R-Jacksonville) and in the House by Elaine Schwartz (D-Hollywood).
This is a report on the two bills. Advocates tell us they want to be fully informed, but we know your time is valuable. Read them together or separately using these links:
Degreed Teacher Pre-Kindergarten Bill
Floridians are worried. Jobs are disappearing, family budgets are strained. There is great debate on how to turn it around. When the conversation turns to children, people across Florida pretty much think the same. They agree that our state leaders must guarantee a quality public education and protect the public safety.
The years before a child enters kindergarten are vital to future educational outcomes. Based on hard science, ensuring that Florida's voluntary pre-kindergarten program is high quality through the employment of a degreed lead teacher in every classroom is the single most important systemic reform to be accomplished on behalf of Florida's early learning and larger educational system.
In national research to be made public within the week, readiness gains to be achieved with degreed teachers far exceed those attained by teachers with fewer credentials. This forthcoming research has never been timelier. Pre-k test scores released last week by the Department of Education showed an actual decline in school readiness among Florida's four-year-olds. It is time to change the direction of the state's pre-k program for the better and to realize the related economic stimulus and long term benefits.
Juvenile justice reform in Florida has not occurred despite the creation of two blue ribbon panels.
In 1989, a Juvenile Justice Review Task Force, created by Governor Bob Martinez, came forward with 50 recommendations. Two decades later, at the urging of the Children's Campaign, Governor Charlie Crist appointed the Juvenile Justice Blueprint Commission. They have come forward with 52 recommendations. There is a difference this time. The Blueprint Commission has wisely endorsed sweeping legislation that codifies their many recommendations in state law.
It is long past time to derail the school house to jail house track and to guarantee that the right kids receive the right help at the right time. Public safety is not served by delaying prevention and intervention services. Delays result in citizens becoming victims of more serious crime. Florida builds a new adult prison every year while cutting juvenile justice programs. Major reforms proposed in the legislation would bring fairness, balance, and equity to the juvenile justice system and make wiser investments with the current public safety budget.
Pre-K Degreed Teachers
50 Mayors Across Florida Endorse Pre-K Bill
Early Childhood Association of Florida and Florida Family Childcare Home Association Unite in Support
Use the Links Below to Join the Coalition
The pre-k degreed teacher legislation has strong bi-partisan support. In the Senate, the sponsors are Mike Fasano (R-New Port Richey) and Nan Rich (D-Sunrise). Fasano is the Senate President Pro Tempore and Chair of Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations. A staunch advocate for many far reaching improvements in state government and public education, and an early supporter of the Children's Campaign, he participated in Picture the Future. Rich is the consummate health and human service advocate. She was the first Florida senator to participate in Picture the Future. Vice-chair of three Senate Committees, including Health and Human Services Appropriations, Rich's legacy of advocacy for children and the most vulnerable will be remembered in this state for a long, long time.
In the House, the sponsors are Will Weatherford (R-Wesley Chapel) and Janet Long (D-Seminole). Weatherford, in only his second term, is Chair of State Community Colleges and Workforce Appropriations and is Vice Chair of two committees. He is well versed on public education issues as well as budget and economic development. Long is truly respected on both sides of the aisle. She is the ranking Democratic member of the Military and Local Affairs Policy Committee. She is pro-kid, pro-education, and pro-making wise investments.
The bill numbers are SB 602 and HB 487, respectively.
Martha Barnett and Patricia Greene of Holland & Knight, Linda Alexionok of Children's Campaign, Inc. , Gege Kreischer, President, and Suzanne Gellens, Executive Director, of the Early Childhood Association of Florida, which comprises the largest association of early learning providers in the state and one of the most significant in the country, have worked tirelessly to advance the legislation.
They are joined by the Florida Family Childcare Home Association along with a long list of statewide and local educational organizations.
To date, the mayors of 50 cities have weighed in with their support through official proclamations and more are signing up every day. The mayor's initiative has been led by Mayors Scott Clemons (Panama City), Peegen Hanrahan (Gainesville), Buddy Dyer (Orlando), and John Marks (Tallahassee).
The bill would require that all Florida pre-kindergarten classrooms have a lead bachelor degreed teacher by the year 2013. Degreed teachers in pre-k result in vastly improved school readiness rates and immediate and wide-scale savings in K-12 remediation, child welfare and the criminal justice system.
In another positive step toward preparing for the advent of degreed pre-k teachers, the Revenue Estimating Conference is acting, beginning with the 2010 budget, to move the calculation for pre-k spending away from a subsidized child care type reimbursement process to being included in the public education FTE funding formula.
The bills have been filed and assigned to committees and are now waiting to be placed on the calendar.
Join the Coalition and add your organization to the list of 50 mayors and associations endorsing the degreed teacher bill.
Juvenile Justice Blueprint Bill
Reform bill codifies Blueprint Commission Recommendations
Process shepherded by citizen leader Bill Sublette
Use the Links Below to Join the Coalition
Passage of this legislation will result in true reform for Florida's long troubled juvenile justice system so that another study commission won't be plowing the same ground years from now.
In the Senate, the sponsor is Stephen Wise (R-Jacksonville). Chair of Education PreK - 12 Appropriations, Wise has promoted improvements to educational opportunities in Florida's juvenile justice system, supports after-school programs, knew early on that girls need attention different from boys entering the system, and has protected front end and intervention programs from budget cuts. In the House, the sponsor is Elaine Schwartz (D-Hollywood). An attorney, Schwartz is a strong advocate for children, seniors, and the homeless. Her community engagements are extensive and she served as Democratic Whip from 2006 - 2008.
SB 2218 and HB 1335 take the recommendations made by the Blueprint Commission and translate them into state law. Major focus areas, among others, include expungement of certain juvenile records, legal representation at all stages of delinquency proceedings, Medicaid eligibility for certain juveniles, targeted services for girls, and diversion of first-time drug offenders into treatment programs instead of placement into detention centers.
The legislation came about due to Bill Sublette's vision after voting to approve the report compiled by the Florida Juvenile Justice Blueprint Commission, chaired energetically by former Florida Lt. Governor Frank Brogan. Committed to not having this report merely sit on a shelf, Sublette approached Representative Dean Cannon (R-Winter Park) and asked for assistance in having bill drafting embody the Blueprint recommendations into proposed state law. The resulting bill was brought back to the Blueprint Commission which made minor changes and then endorsed it in its entirety.
After the Commission vote, the collective action of the Children's Campaign board of directors, citizen leaders, and stakeholder advocates brought the draft legislation to the attention of the bill sponsors.
A broad based coalition of state and national groups is forming to support the reform bill through contact with policy-makers and outreach into the community. Join the coalition and add your organization to the endorsement list.
These efforts will unfold while advocates also work together to protect children in the appropriations battles to take place in the coming weeks.
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