Two agenda items and one budget presentation were important to our work.

JOBS BILL FUNDING

The State of Florida has been allocated $554,821,008 from the Education Jobs Fund program.   Ed Jobs is a new program authorized by Congress that provides resources to states to assist local school districts in saving or creating education jobs. The program requires that school districts use the funds to pay the salaries and benefits of teachers, school administrators, and other essential school-based staff. Briefly stated, the funds can be used to recall or rehire former employees, retain existing employees, and hire new employees to ensure that students receive vital educational and related services. These funds may not be used for general administrative expenses, overhead, or other support services.

The Governors’ application to the US DOE states that the Jobs Funds will be allocated to school districts proportionately based on funding in the 2010-11 Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP). School districts may expend the funds through September 30, 2012. . Funds will be received by September 30, 2010 and district by district allocations should be available by the end of the week.

Senate Appropriation Chairman and Commission member JD Alexander encourage school districts to follow the federal guidance and spend the funds but cautioned that they also ought to move existing allocations to the district reserve account up to a 3% level. Representative Denise Grimsley, also a member of this Commission, was more pointed in her comments that districts consider this advice

We will forward more information as it become available.

RACE TO THE TOP

The Race to the Top (RTTT) grant totaling $700,000,000 and covering Fiscal Years 2010-11 through 2013-14 was awarded to Florida on August 24, 2010. Briefly stated, the goals of the grant are to significantly improve student achievement, close achievement gaps, improve high school graduation rates, and ensure student preparation for success in colleges and careers. The grant is to be used to implement strategies to address four central areas of reform for school improvement: (1) adopting standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace; (2) building data systems that measure student success, and inform teachers and principals about how they can improve instruction; (3) recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and principals; and (4) turning around the lowest achieving schools.

The DOE is requesting the first year award amount of $127,382,496 in budget authority for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. These funds will be available from the award date through September 30, 2011. Fifty percent of the state’s total award will be distributed to participating school districts according to the federal Title I funding formula and the remaining fifty percent will fund state-level projects benefiting school districts statewide.

Statewide Longitudinal Data System The department received two Statewide Longitudinal Data System grants that will be used to provide enhancements to data systems in support of education reforms anticipated under the Race to the Top program and other state initiatives. The grants are to support improvements in the access and usability of data through self-service research tools, automate the approval process for data requests and expand state reporting capabilities including common definitions across the education sectors. System enhancements will allow stakeholders to more efficiently and accurately manage, analyze, and use student data. The department proposes to provide several different reporting capabilities for use by many stakeholders and to improve the department’s ability to analyze and evaluate its programs and policies.

The initial Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS) grant totals $2,450,000 and covers the period July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2014. The second SLDS grant totals $9,975,288 and covers the period July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2013. The budget authority needed for both SLDS grants in the 2010-2011 fiscal year is $5,353,311.

BUDGET PICTURE BRIGHTENS…SOME

The commission adopted a revised long-range outlook that would cut Florida’s estimate budget gap by more than half to $2.5 billion for next year. State economists have reduced the estimated  gap between state general revenues and high to critical priority spending needs for the budget year beginning next July 1. The state’s chief economist, Any Baker, says the revisions are due to an improving economic picture, but she cautions the forecast doesn’t take into consideration revenue losses from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Those costs have yet to be calculated and would likely widen the budget gap.

Background

The Legislative Budget Commission is created in the Florida Constitution, Florida Statutes, and the Joint Rules of the Florida Legislature. While the Legislature has the constitutional duty to appropriate the moneys in the state treasury, the Legislature has recognized the need for modifications to the budget during the interim between legislative sessions. To this end, the Constitution delegates authority to the Commission to oversee certain aspects of the implementation of the approved budget for the State of Florida. The Commission is empowered to ratify certain adjustments to the budget as recommended by the Governor or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court without the concurrence of the full legislature. Chapter 216, F.S., directs the Legislative Budget Commission to answer budget questions that may arise throughout the year and empowers the Commission to ensure that the funding for the executive and judicial branches remains appropriate and sufficient until the Legislature reconvenes for the following Legislative Session

The Commission is also charged with developing the long-range financial outlook and with reviewing proposed information technology-related budget amendments in specified instances.

The Commission is comprised of 14 legislative Members – seven House Members appointed by the Speaker and seven Senators appointed by the President.

Kevin W. Watson

Florida Education Association

213 S. Adams Street

Tallahassee, FL 32301

850.224.2078 Office

850.228.4041 Cell

850.224.9294 Fax

kevin.watson(at)floridaea.org

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