From Susan Smith, president of the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida…
Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you should be aware of the “Parent Empowerment” bill that’s in the Florida legislature. This is ALEC model legislation being pushed by Jeb Bush, Michelle Rhee (funded by Rupert Murdoch), and the Gates Foundation. Opponents of the bill are the Florida PTA, FundEducationNow, 50thNoMore, SaveDuvalSchools, the labor unions, and the League of Women Voters. I know which side I’m on! Please read today’s editorial in the St. Pete Times for more information.
Calls and emails can really make a difference with this nasty piece of legislation. Please take 10 minutes to call the following legislators and ask them to vote NO on Senate Bill 1718. Be sure to tell them if you are a constituent. If you are not a constituent, say you are a supporter of public education. Leave a message if you can’t get a live person. And last of all, please share this with your contacts. Thank you!
Targets, relevant points and background below:
Sen. Altman – (321) 752-3138 (co-sponsor of bill – Tallahassee number wasn’t taking voice messages)
Sen. Evers – (850) 487-5000
Sen. Garcia – (850) 487-5106
Sen. Diaz de la Portilla – (850) 487-5109
Sen. Norman – (850) 487-5068
Sen. Fasano – (850) 487-5062
Sen. Oelrich – (850) 487-5020
Sen. Bennett – (850) 487-5078
Vote NO on SB 1718
The Parent Empowerment bill, also known as the “trigger” bill, is an attempt at a hostile takeover of our public schools system by private for-profit charters.
Outside groups have been flown into Florida to lobby for this bill. Why? Who’s paying for it?
I am a strong supporter of public schools. I stand with PTA, Fund Education Now, and the many Florida parent groups who oppose this bill.
This bill does nothing to “empower” parents, and instead will allow our public resources to be turned over to un-elected, out-of-state boards for management.
Charters fail at a much higher rate than traditional public schools. There is no data to prove they are better than traditional public schools.
Background:
This bill states that a “failing” school could pull the trigger (by having 50% +1 of the parents sign a petition) to fire the principal, fire the teachers, and/or turn the school over to a private charter company. This takes control away from local elected leaders and puts it in the hands of private businesses. This could also turn public property over to private businesses. Charters have a high failure rate, so any argument about helping kids is not based on data.
This bill is ALEC legislation that is being pushed around the country by Jeb Bush and Michelle Rhee. All the established parent groups in Florida, like PTA, opposed this bill. A group called Parents Revolution was flown in from California to testify on behalf of the bill. In California, where the bill was passed a few years ago, “astroturf” (fake grassroots) groups have gone in to mislead parents into signing the petitions to pull the trigger on failing schools.
This article points out some of the supporters of this bill (although it leaves out bi-partisan folks like the Democrat National Convention Chair and Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, who have spoken out in favor of it) along some groups who oppose it. However, it is very misleading about what the bill does. First of all, by FL law, all charter schools are public schools, NOT PRIVATE (see FL statute 1002.33, link below). Second, this bill only gives parents whose kids are IN A FAILING SCHOOL the power to influence turn-around actions that are already required by law, of which converting to a charter school is only one option (and has only been used once since these laws have been enacted in 3 states).
In other words, this bill HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PRIVATIZING SCHOOLS.
When you look at the huge $$$ the so-called “pro-parent” opposition has spent on lobbyists, media campaigns and hundreds, if not thousands, of robo-calls to legislators, I have to wonder what these groups stand to gain, financially, by stopping it? I mean, when you consider the blatant misinformation and millions being spent to spread, the math just doesn’t make sense!
What about the ACTUAL PARENTS of kids in these failing schools, who are often low-income minorities and don’t have millions to spend on lobbyists and robo-calls? The ones who have come out by the thousands, some driving to Tallahasse from across the state, in support of this legislation which finally gives them a seat at the table?
FL statute 1002.33: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=1000-1099/1002/Sections/1002.33.html