Our colleagues with Save Duval Schools prepared the following message we’d like to pass along to you:

Monday in Tallahassee, real Florida Moms had to hold our own press conference so we could be heard on why we oppose SB 1718, the so-called “Parent Empowerment Act.”

We made it 100% clear that as parents, our power comes from us, not a corporate empowerment/parent trigger scheme.

The Senate will vote on the Parent Trigger bill NOW so your call now is critical.

Please call these Senators and encourage them to vote against SB 1718:

Sen. Norman
(850) 487-5068

Sen. Storms
(850) 487-5072

Sen. Bennett
(850) 487-5078

Sen. Oelrich
(850) 487-5020

Sen. Evers
(850) 487-5000

Sen. Altman
(850) 487-5053

Sen. Garcia
(850) 487-5106

Sen. Diaz de la Portilla
(850) 487-5109

Sen. Fasano
(850) 487-5062

Now we’re hearing that leadership is trying to amend this bill to make it not quite as bad. Email each and every Senator and remind them that you can’t put lipstick on a pig – a bad bill amended is still a bad bill.

NO amendments; VOTE NO on SB1718.

Your response so far has been amazing!!

Every senate office reported over 400 calls and thousands of emails between Sunday and Monday.

But our work is not finished. We have to keep up the pressure. Many Senators are wavering on their votes.

The powers that be in Tallahassee are pushing back against real parents. They’ve sent intimidating emails to constituents questioning their knowledge; they’ve said we’re just affiliates of the union; and they’ve used procedural moves to advance this bad bill.

They think that’s all it will take to silence us. Apparently, they’ve never met a mama bear fighting for her young.

Let these Senators know that your concerns are real, your facts are true, and your love of your children is unwavering by emailing them to encourage them to vote no on SB 1718.

Then send an email to thank the Senators that have stood with us and those that have promised to do so.

Despite a well-funded misinformation campaign, the facts are clear: instead of empowering parents, this infamous “parent trigger” scheme does the following:

•Uses parents’ concern for their children as a tool to pull the “trigger” and turns their neighborhood school into a “corporate school”
•Strips power from parents and voters
•Removes all local control from taxpayers
•Destroys democratic process by taking neighborhood schools away from the jurisdiction of duly-elected district officials
•Allows 51% to make a major fiscal and education decision for everyone else’s child
•Robs Florida taxpayers of a significant capital investment
•For-profit charter answers to no elected official, profits off our children and does not “empower parents”

Our children cannot afford profit-driven reforms that do not work. Speak up today. Give our children a voice.

Our greatest power is our love for our children.

Thank you for making your call today!

The Duval County Council of PTAs established the Superintendent’s Leadership Academy to both foster leadership skills of high school students and mobilize an often underutilized population– the students themselves.

Almost 200 students participated in the Superintendent’s Leadership Academy since its inception last school year. Students are provided four training sessions to learn about education advocacy issues and are equipped to write letters, make phone calls, send e-mails and ultimately meet with decision makers.

Throughout the duration of the program, student participants have the opportunity to meet with decision-makers, including state legislators during the Duval Delegation Day in Tallahassee, Florida. Last year, several student participants addressed the Duval County School Board at a budget meeting and even traveled with the School Board to meet with the State Board of Education.

The Duval County Council of PTAs will be recognized, along with other Advocacy Award recipients this week during the National PTA® Legislative Conference (March 7-8) in Washington, DC. The two-day conference provides ‘grassroots’ leaders from across the country an in-depth look at the latest National PTA Public Policy Agenda through a series of workshops, skill building trainings, panel discussions and guest speakers. Parent leaders will then visit with congressional leaders to advocate for effective family engagement in education and equity and opportunity in education for all children.

In addition, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will also meet with National PTA leaders and discuss the state of education during a special keynote address. The complete agenda for the conference can be found here. For more information about the National PTA Legislative Conference, please visit www.pta.org. The 2012 National PTA Federal Public Policy Agenda can be viewed at www.pta.org/public_policy_agenda.asp.

About the Outstanding Advocacy Award
The Outstanding Advocacy Award is presented to a local, district, council or regional PTA that, through their dedication, leadership and efforts, positively affected legislative and/or regulatory policy compatible with PTA’s mission and goals. These efforts must include an education/learning component for PTA members and the community-at-large. Working with multiple organizations or coalitions through grassroots collaboration is preferred.

About National PTA
National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers,administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth.

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http://www.pwrnewmedia.com/2012/national_pta/duval_county_ptas/index.html

HB 1191/SB 1718

We need you to take action, we ask you to do so NOW!

In a surprise move, the so-called “Parent Empowerment Act”/SB 1718 did not get enough votes Friday to move to the floor for a full vote. Now there’s a full-court press to pass this bill at all costs. It’s up to us to say no. In an effort to move the bill to the floor, Sen. John Thrasher called another Senate Budget Committee for 8 a.m. Saturday with the plan to quietly vote and move this bill to the floor. Late Note: The Senate Budget Committee passed the bill on Saturday, March 3rd and has moved it to the floor for a full vote. It is expected to be heard on Wednesday March 7.

Florida PTA, FundEducationNow.org, Citizens for Strong Schools, 50th No More, Marions United for Public Education, Save Duval Schools and Support Dade Schools issued a widely-published joint statement clearly stating that we do not support the so-called “Parent Empowerment Act.”

Instead of empowering parents, this infamous “parent trigger” scheme does the following:

Uses parents’ concern for their children as a tool to pull the “trigger” and give their neighborhood school to a private for-profit charter management corporation

Strips power from parents and voters

Removes all local control from taxpayers

Destroys democratic process by taking neighborhood schools away from the jurisdiction of duly elected district officials

Allows a small group of people to make a major fiscal and education decision for everyone else’s child

Robs Florida taxpayers of a significant capital investment (buildings and contents)

For-profit charters answer to no elected official, profit off our children, and do not “empower parents.”

Our children cannot afford profit-driven reforms that do not work. Speak up today. Give our children a voice at the table.

This alert is being sent in partnership with a coalition of concerned groups throughout our state.

Contact your elected Senator along with:

President of the Senate Mike Haridopolos (850) 487-5229 haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov
Sen. Bennett (850) 487-5078
Sen. Norman (850) 487-5068
Sen. Oelrich (850) 487-5020
Sen. Altman (850) 487-5053

The SLA is a grassroots advocacy and civics training course for those high school students nominated by their administration as leaders in their schools. This is the second year the Duval County Council has offered this training to Jacksonville students. This year’s course began in Oct 2011 and finished up with a trip to Tallahassee in January where the students were able to practice the advocacy skills they learned. 82 students from every highschool in the city attended some of the training, with 54 students completing the full training and traveling to Tallahassee to advocate for their schools with the State Legislators in January.

During the month of February, three (3) alerts will be emailed to you asking you to contact the Governor, your State Senator and your State House Representative to support Public Pre-K to 12 Education.

The governor has asked for $1 billion to be added back to the Public Pre-K to 12 Education budget in the next fiscal year, but that is NOT enough. Duval County Public Schools still faces a deficit of at least $53 million dollars, even if the governor’s request is implemented.

Also, there are other bills affecting Public Pre-K-12 Education which have been introduced which take money away from public education and do not allow for local control of our schools.

SIGN UP HERE to receive the email alerts.

Talking points –
HB 1191 – Parent Empowerment Bill & Legislator Contact Info
SB1852 – Public Money for For-Profit Charter Schools

Our annual trip to Tallahassee to meet with our legislators will take place

Wednesday, January 25, 2012.

We will have bus transportation available and we’ll even buy you lunch!

This is a GREAT opportunity to meet with our Duval delegation face to face to share information with them why public education funding is so important.

We will board the buses to Tallahassee from the School Board Building at 6am and will be returning to Jacksonville by 4:30pm

More information and a link to reserve your space will be available in January.

The next Advocacy Training session will be held

Saturday, January 7 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
at Paxon School for Advanced Studies
3239 Norman Thagard Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32254

DCCPTA is able to offer this training through the grant received from National PTA.

The following topics will be covered:

Strategy Formation
Meeting with Decision Makers

Recent participants have said this is among the most valuable training they have EVER received – and can be applied to MANY aspects of your life – NOT just advocating for good schools.

Current local unit PTA Board members are especially encouraged to attend – but the training is open to ANYONE in the district.

The training is FREE – but you must reserve a space as we are limited to 30 participants. Refreshments will be provided!

Registration will open soon.

Goals:
• Adequate funding for Public School Education (Pre-K – 12)
• STOP Unfunded Mandates
• Eliminate or Lower Class Size Amendment penalties

Organizational Considerations: (Who we are, what we have) We are parents; we are voters; we are the guardians, the caretakers, the protectors, the champions, the voices for over 123,000 children in our District.

Tactics: Postcard Campaign. We are expressing our valid and rational desires for public education in this state in a positive and polite manner, pleasantly and persistently. We want to make an impression and be memorable, so each of our elected officials realizes education funding is important and important to many of their constituents.

Here are a few fun ideas to get your local unit parents and teachers MOTIVATED to participate in this campaign:

Sand pails (from the Dollar Store) filled with donut holes. “Our Education Bucket has holes in it! Please help!” Make a cute display and offer cider or coffee/tea and donut holes during a postcard writing hour in the lounge, the cafeteria or the school courtyard.

You and a few of your friends (aka other passionate parents) take clipboards and ask parents sitting in the car-rider line to fill out a postcard while they wait in line. Better yet, ask them to turn off their engines and HELP YOU get a dozen postcards signed. Have some “talking points” printed and taped to the clipboards.
If your school PTA uses social media or email newsletters, or constant contact, send them an invite to participate in the postcard writing campaign. Make it at a variety of times to accommodate all schedules.

Give away a candy cane to each writer.
Ask the homeroom parents to collect postcards from the other parents in the class. (A little competition is always good: you can offer a reward to the homeroom parent who collects the most postcards or the class with the most parent participation wins a gift card for the teacher.

Have a “Support Your Child and Their Teacher” campaign. The teacher who has the most parents write postcards wins a (lunch certificate, hot chocolate mix and mug, movie tickets, a school spirit tee shirt etc.). Remember though, this is not to be a burden on the teachers; this is a PTA event, although many teachers are very willing to support and encourage our efforts.

Place a group of clocks on a table and make a poster to the effect of: “Do you know what time it is? Time to let Tallahassee know Education is important!”

Dress like elves, and be Santa’s helpers, checking to see who’s naughty and nice, nice equals those who send holiday wishes. Or: Don’t be a Grinch, write your postcards!

For High Schools, combine our postcard campaign with a voter registration drive.

Have a “Take 5!” Take 5 minutes and write as many cards as you can in 5 minutes.

Convey your gratitude for those who have helped your children along the way, whether it is a neighbor, scout leader, Sunday school teacher, and/or coach and ask them to write one postcard as well.

Join us for grassroots advocacy training made possible by the CCSSI grant.

Dec 3

9:15am check in
9:30am. Developing issue strategies
11am. Building coalitions
12:30pm done

This training is currently scheduled to be held at Andrew Jackson High School.
3816 N Main St
Jacksonville, FL 32206

Register NOW

Second part of this training (Meeting with Decision Makers & Working with the Media) will be held the first Saturday of January.

Have your parents, teachers, SAC, and community members write a few sentences as to what they want for schools in our district on these festive holiday cards provided by the CCSSI grant.

Use your VOICE!

Campaign starts Nov 14th and will run to Dec 1st.
Cards and talking points from the DCPS Legislative Coalition can be picked up at the Nov 15th DCC PTA General Meeting or contact Vickie at WEB@DCCPTA.org to arrange for drop of cards to your unit. MAKE SURE – all cards need a ZIP code. This will drive home to our legislators that our members are paying attention.

The first week of Dec, we ask units to send their cards back through school mail to the Teachers’ Supply Depot. From there DCC will hand deliver / mail all the cards to our State Legislators.

Prizes will be awarded for the schools / units that turn in the most cards ($100 gift card to Office Depot or Staples). All schools that participate in this postcard campaign and the next one will be eligible for a raffle chance for another $100 gift card, as well as earn the “I Have A Voice” legislative award.