Local Control - A Core Value

SJR 1150 would place a constitutional amendment on the ballot in November that would weaken class-size limits and infringe on local fiscal control of education funding.

While there may be room for discussions on class-size limits, there is no room for a rule that would mandate how school districts should spend education funding. There is no "one size fits all" formula that will meet the needs of each of the districts in our diverse state.

Take this opportunity to urge your state senator to uphold the concept of local control - a core value.

The full Senate will vote on SJR 1150 this Friday, April 28. You may edit and personalize all or part of the message.

Please act today.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Uphold Local Control - Oppose SJR 1150

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

While there may be room for discussions on class-size limitations, I urge you to oppose SJR 1150 - a bill that muddies the waters by infringing on local control of school district finances.

The 65% plan would mandate that school districts spend an arbitrary percentage of their education funding on classroom instruction (yet to be defined). This 65% plan runs contrary to the core value of local control.

Please consider these questions.

- Who knows the needs of Florida's diverse school districts better than locally elected school board members?

- Who can be be held more accountable by constituent voters than these elected, local officials?

- How can they be held accountable if they are forced to adhere to a "one size fits all" formula?

- Who will be held accountable if student achievement declines under this mandate?

- Can you imagine legislators' consternation if it were mandated that they spend 65% of general revenues on a specified need of the state?

School districts should have the flexibility to identify and implement initiatives and programs that meet their particular needs.

Please support the core value of local control. Please oppose SJR 1150 when you vote on Friday.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
April 27, 2006


Background Information

SJR 1150 would ask Florida voters to relax class-size limits. While there may be room for discussions on class-size limits, SJR 1150 contains language that would infringe on local school board discretion as to how best spend education funding.

The 65% plan would tighten state control over school districts by requiring that 65% of education spending be spent on classroom instruction. However, an analysis by Standard and Poor's found no evidence supporting contentions that directing a certain percentage of funding to the classroom would boost learning.

As currently defined by the federal Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics, "classroom instruction" would include teachers' salaries, school athletics, and some services for disabled students. Librarians, counselors, nurses, teachers' aides, teacher training, tech support, food service, transportation, custodians, utilities, and insurance could fall outside the definition of classroom instruction.

The provision does not guarantee a single additional dollar for schools and would ask voters to trust that the legislature will correctly define classroom expenditures. SJR 1150 asks voters to forego spending $15 billion for our schools in return for phantom revenues retrieved from cuts in "wasteful spending" by our districts.

Do we cut positions? Do we privatize jobs? Do we pay a larger share of health care costs? Who will be held accountable if student achievement declines? Who knows?

Read about the 65% plan in posts to SeminoleUniServTheLink, our discussion board.

Read an article from today's The Orlando Sentinel on the subject of today's debate and the impending vote in the Senate.