Draining Money From Public Schools

October 2017

Schools Without Rules –draining money from public schools
The Orlando Sentinel published a series, ‘Schools Without Rules’, which exposes the truth about vouchers that drain billions every year from public schools to fund private schools that have few regulations and little oversight. (Read the series at this link.) Today my response was published in the Orlando Sentinel as a My Word Column:
The Orange County Classroom Teachers Association stands united in its commitment not just to preserve public education, but also to strengthen it. Thank you to the Orlando Sentinel for the Pulitzer Prize-worthy series, "Schools Without Rules" by reporters Leslie Postal, Annie Martin and Beth Kassab. It exposes the truth about vouchers, which drain nearly $1 billion every year from Florida's public schools to fund private schools that have few regulations and little oversight.
President Donald Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos are promoting private-school vouchers and backdoor vouchers in the form of tax credits. Former Gov. Jeb Bush and Gov. Rick Scott are also fierce cheerleaders. Vouchers increase the cost of education by requiring taxpayers to fund both public- and private-school systems. OCCTA rejects Trump-DeVos voucher schemes that do not serve all children and aim to privatize education. Private-school vouchers fail students and communities by taking taxpayer dollars from public education to fund private and religious schools that are not held to the same standards as public schools. They do not meet the standards for teacher qualifications, curriculum or testing.
Our students deserve more than a profit-driven approach to education. Our children should not be looked at as tools for corporate money schemes.
DeVos is recognized as the most unqualified candidate selected to hold the position of secretary of education since the office was established. She never attended a public school; her children never attended a public school; and she worked to dismantle public schools in Detroit to the detriment of students and the entire community. She is not an educator; she is a lobbyist. For two decades she personally spent millions to elect legislators who support diverting tax dollars from public schools for private-school vouchers. We need to strengthen - not weaken - our country's public schools, which 90 percent of American children attend.
The Trump-DeVos education plan is seen as a wrecking ball for public education. OCCTA stands in solidarity as the resistance because we recognize public education as the cornerstone of American democracy. We need every community member to stand up for public education today and every day.
We need every parent, teacher, education-support professional, school board member, policy maker and citizen to oppose policies that would threaten our public schools and our children's future.
OCCTA opposes private schools that do not hold students to the same standards as other public schools; that selectively enroll students; that do not disclose financial and academic information; and that deny their employees the right to bargain collectively.

No to Class Size Waivers
It is disappointing that the Central Florida School Board Coalition sent a letter to Governor Rick Scott asking him to waive the penalties for class size due to the influx of students from Puerto Rico. The coalition consists of 13 school districts, including Orange County. (Read the Orlando Sentinel story at this link.)
What the coalition should have asked for is more funding to hire additional teachers so that all students can achieve to the highest level. Class size limits should be honored. Many permanent substitutes were already in OCPS classrooms before Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico and still are. Since OCPS schools opened this year, coaches and other instructional personnel have been diverted to classes that lack permanent teachers. They are still in those classrooms. While the coalition’s request for an exemption to class size limits is said to be due to an influx of students, it could also be viewed as an excuse to eliminate current vacancies by rearranging classes and overloading the existing teachers with extra students, exceeding class size limits. This will only further frustrate already frustrated teachers and impair their ability to ensure academic excellence for each and every student.
The obvious solution to a flood of incoming students and the lack of teachers to fill positions, would be to hire more teachers. Considering the way teachers are treated that may not be as easy as it seems. There is, and has been, an exodus of teachers from the profession and that includes from Orange County Public Schools. OCPS must take immediate action to reverse the trend.
It is time that our District investigate why there have not been enough teachers to fill every class over the last few years. It is time to investigate why so many teachers leave before the school year ends and why there are permanent substitutes in classes for an entire year. OCPS must treat teachers as respected professionals and certified experts who know their craft. The District must restore teacher autonomy and recognize that teachers have the ability and experience to know how to best advance student learning. Provide teachers with the tools and resources they need to ensure that every student can achieve. Stop micromanaging teachers by forcing more than one PLC a week, requiring unnecessary team data collection, and mandating team lesson plans that must be uniform in delivery. Respect class size, our contract, and most of all, respect all teachers and instructional personnel and treat them as professionals.

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