The 2017 State Legislative Update: Week 1 
The 2017 State Legislative session officially kicked off on March 7 and FCSA was there on your behalf.  Here's a brief recap of education and charter school related activity that took place during the first week of session:

SB 78 / Public School Recess - Sponsored by Senator Flores, the bill requires each district school board to provide students with at least 100 minutes of supervised, unstructured free play each week - or 20 minutes of free play each week - to students in kindergarten through 5th grade. The bill easily cleared the Appropriations Subcommittee on Pre-K-12 Education.  Related Bill: HB 67 
 
SB 376 / Charter School Funding - Sponsored by Senator Simmons, this bill would authorize school boards to raise local tax rates, require school districts to share local tax dollars with charter schools, and prohibit charter schools from being eligible for a funding allocation under certain circumstances.   
  
SB 360 - Sponsored by Senator Stargel, this bill directs the Florida Department of Education to examine what other states are doing to raise academic achievement in middle school.  The bill passed the Senate Education Committee with a unanimous vote.  

HB 833 - Sponsored by Representative Sullivan, this bill revises student eligibility for K-12 Virtual Instruction. The bill passed the PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee. 

If you have any questions about this legislative session or plan to visit The Capitol in the coming weeks, contact Ralph Arza. 
 
FCSA Podcast
Has your school been impacted by the teacher shortage?

 On the lastest FCSA podcast episode, we speak with Dave Saba from Florida Teachers. We talk about the teacher shortage and how Florida Teachers is addressing this critical issue by helping potential educators navigate the certification process.     
  
Federal Update
English Learners and ESSA: Implications for States and Charter Schools
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) maintains key provisions from No Child Left Behind (NCLB) but also makes significant changes. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and the National Council of La Raza have produced a new brief to ensure that charter public school leaders and operators have key facts about the law and proposed regulations that will affect the implementation of requirements that specifically apply to English learners.
Upcoming Events

Invite your parents to the
Parent Power Workshop/Lunch
FCSA & Step Up for Students is helping parents understand the critical role they play in the legislative process, and how they can help their child's school, safeguard school choice and their right to choose the best school for their child. 

Upcoming workshops for parents: 

March 13     
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Kidworks USA (all are welcome!)
8155 West 28th Ave.
Hialeah, FL 33016

March 14
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.  
Lazy Days Restaurant
79867 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, FL 33036
 
March 15 
11:30am - 1pm
Caroline's Cafe
310 Duval Street
Key West, FL 33040
 
March 16
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
M.O.T Academy
14202 SW 61 Street
Miami FL 33183

Register by clicking the workshop date. 
Technology & Education Innovation Fair for school leaders
 
Learn about education technology trends at this event hosted by Somerset Academy in partnership with the Florida Charter School Alliance.
Free for FCSA members. Tuesday, May 16 - Somerset  City Arts, 47 NW 16 Street, Homestead.
News Clips