Orange County parents, teachers and school administrators are headed to Tallahassee today to urge lawmakers not to cut school budgets as this would hurt student performance and compromise Florida’s future . Hundreds from across the state are expected to assemble for the “Rally in Tally for Florida’s Future”, at the state capitol, to make the case that education budgets should not be cut.
Counties across the state are facing cuts to education next year, which was staved off in 2010 on account of the federal stimulus funds and are likely to run out next year.
Schools in Orange County are facing a $60 million budgetary shortfall, while Seminole, Brevard, Volusia counties are projecting gaps of $30 million, $28 million and $26 million, respectively, reports wftv.
Meanwhile, Florida legislators are rushing through a number of major education reforms which could likely bring an end to long-held tradition of paying teachers based on length of service and instead on merit; give schools more flexibility on class sizes and introduce more stringent requirements for students graduating from high school.
On Wednesday, Florida Senate Republicans passed, in a close vote, a bill that would base teacher pay increases on student performance. It requires schools districts to tie 50 percent of teacher salaries to their students’ standardized test scores, the News Service of Florida reports. The bill, SB 6, now makes its way to the House, which has drafted it own bill.
The Senate also passed a bill which would raise the standards of students graduating from high school, eventually requiring courses in geometry, algebra, biology, and chemistry or physics.
Earlier today, the Senate also passed a bill, which if it obtains House approval, will have voters decide whether or not they wish to give schools more flexibility in determining class sizes.
See Video of Rally in Tally for Florida’s Future
