Information about FY 2018 State Budget & HB7069

May 26, 2017 – UCP of Central Florida press release – The FY18 State Budget/HB7069 will be arriving to the Governors Office any day!

Although not perfect – it has many elements that will help provide additional funding and resources to our charter schools and our staff including teacher bonuses, additional funds for our lower income/Title I Schools and programs for students with disabilities and additional funds for facilities/equipment.   It will also increase funding for the Gardiner Scholarships for students with disabilities.

If you agree that this should happen – please call or e-mail the Governors office and ask him NOT to veto HB7069/Education Budget and provide equitable funding for children at Charter Schools.   His number is 850-488-7146 or http://www.flgov.com/contact-gov-scott/email-the-governor/

There is a lot of misinformation floating around about what the Education Budget Bill will do or not do….it is unfortunate that there is not unlimited resources but in the interim we think funding should be fair and equitable for ALL students:

Title I – Title 1 is federal money that provides extra funds for schools with lower income families to allow them to provide additional instruction/services/equipment.   The amount that goes to each School District is based on the number of free and reduced lunch students (including charter school students).   Currently – School Districts are allowed to take a sizeable amount of these funds for specific programs that don’t benefit students in charter schools.  This bill would require the funds to follow the low income students to be used by those schools.  

Millage/Real Estate Taxes – Currently all the funds parents pay for “Schools taxes” only go to the Traditional District Schools.   This bill would require districts to share these funds to help the charter schools where the child attends.

Teacher Bonuses – This bill would provide a bonus to all our hard working teachers and school administrators (as well as for District teachers/school administrators).

State Testing – This bill would relax some of the state testing requirements as well as push back the dates of testing to allow more time for learning before the State Tests.

Gardiner Scholarships – This bill would add $30 million to fund new Gardiner Scholarships for students with disabilities and ensure all current students are able to receive their scholarship for next year.

#yeson7069

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