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February 2008 Newsletter
Message from DOE Teacher Liaison, Nicole Flesvig
In addition to providing some useful resources, workshop, and event information, this month’s “Just for Teachers” newsletter also highlights the Governor’s 2008 education budget and reports on how Florida compares to other states in the nation on various education-related performance and policy measures. Looking for Black History Month resources? Are you a K-8 teacher looking for resources to assist you in reviewing your content areas? Look no further. It’s all right here in this issue. Remember that you can always access previous issues of the “Just for Teachers” newsletters on the Web at http://www.fldoe.org/JustForTeachers/Newsletters/.
In the News
Governor Crist Recommends Full Funding for K-12 EducationWith the 2008 Florida legislative session fast approaching, Governor Crist has recommended $33.5 billion in funding for all phases of education, including $138 million to fully fund any K-12 reductions that would occur as a result of voter approval of Amendment 1 on January 29, 2008. The budget includes a 5.46 percent increase in per-student funding – up $394, for a total of $7,606 per student. The proposed budget also includes funds for middle school physical education, reading coaches, virtual tutors, bonuses for outstanding teachers, and prevents a tuition increase for community colleges and state universities.
- Pre-K-12 Funding - $23 billion is recommended for Prekindergarten-12 education, a $1 billion increase over current spending.
- Rewarding Outstanding Teachers - The proposed 2008 education budget also includes $467 million for bonuses for teachers who improve student achievement and who work diligently to improve their teaching skills through national peer review. Governor Crist proposes funding the Merit Award Program created by the 2007 Legislature to provide significantly increased performance bonuses to the state’s best public school teachers and educators. In addition, the proposed funds provide additional opportunities to earn salary bonuses through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate Bonus Program.
2008 Quality Counts Report: Florida's Schools Move Up In Ranking
According to the “2008 Quality Counts: Tapping into Teaching” report by Education Week (www.edweek.org ), Florida is among the top-performing education systems in the nation. The Sunshine State has moved from 31st place to 14th place in the annual report, which rates education in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The 12th edition of Quality Counts grades the states based on performance and policy in six distinct areas: Chance for Success; K-12 Achievement; Standards, Assessments, and Accountability; Transitions and Alignment; the Teaching Profession; and School Finance. Florida ranked above the national average in four of the six areas.
This year, Quality Counts expanded their Teaching Profession benchmarks to look more broadly at the states' roles in attracting, developing, deploying and retaining the best education workforce possible. With a state grade of a B and a score of 83.2, Florida's fourth place ranking exceeded the national average by 10.2 points. Florida was also recognized as one of only 12 states which use data to track the link between individual teachers and student performance, and one of only four states that can track individual students as they progress through the elementary, secondary and postsecondary levels.
For more information, visit http://www.fldoe.org/news/2008/2008_01_09.asp.
Heritage Celebrations: Black History Month
In celebration of the numerous contributions made by African Americans every day in America and in Florida, I would like to draw your attention to some online resources which will be helpful in assisting you to integrate Black History Month into your curriculum. Please take a moment to share with your students some of the contributions that African Americans have made or ask students to share the contributions of African Americans past and present with the class.
Have online resources to share? E-mail JustforTeachers@fldoe.org and we will post them on the “Instructional Resources” page of the “Just for Teachers” Web site!
The following Black History Month resources may be found at this link:
http://www.fldoe.org/JustForTeachers/Instructional_Resources.asp
- Black History Month Guide – a Florida Department of Education publication
- Just Read, Florida! Suggested Reading List – for students of all grade levels
- Florida Black History – Florida’s official Black History Month Web site. Includes information on the Florida Black History Month essay contest and the Black History Month Excellence in Education Award.
- Resources from the U.S. Department of Education – Provides resources for various time periods in black history.
- Resources from the Florida Memory Project – Resources relating specifically to Florida.
- Black History.com Resources – Interactive site offering numerous opportunities to become more engaged in the history of black Americans all year long.
Teacher in the Spotlight: Dr. Sandy Melillo, Northeast High School
2007 Broward County Teacher of the Year & State Finalis
Throughout her 33 year career at Northeast High School, Dr. Sandy Melillo has continued setting and achieving high standards for her students while obtaining National Board Certification and earning a doctorate degree. She has been steadfast in her dedication to implementing the latest technology in her TV Production program, and challenging her AP English and Drama students with advanced materials. She teaches grades 9-12.
Sandy has been a champion for high school curriculum reform and has always set high academic expectations, developing creative lessons plans to challenge her students. She focuses on teaching real-life, job-related skills in her classes, and often encourages her students to remember that what they learn today will impact their future. She also assists her colleagues by serving as a mentor.
Sandy helped create her school’s on-campus media production program and ensures that her students stay on the cutting-edge of the latest technology by seeking educational grants to purchase updated equipment. She has also been known to contribute her own money to her TV production class for their scholarship fund. In addition, Sandy has been the driving force in creating Northeast High’s on-campus dual enrollment college program. Guided by her devotion to growing the program and attracting and retaining students, she has increased enrollment from zero to 150.
Free Resources: Online Content Review for K-8 Educators
Florida educators now have access to two comprehensive online content review modules that are designed to help educators review their knowledge in the core content areas required under the Elementary K-6 and the Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum Certifications. Whether you need to obtain Elementary K-6 or Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum (MGIC) certification to comply with requirements of NCLB, or would just like a review, these online resources will get you started.
- Elementary K-6 Online Content Review Module - beneficial for ESE-certified educators, elementary grades certified general educators, elementary grades administrators seeking a resource to share, and individuals working with K-6 content in the areas of language arts, math, science, social science, health/PE, and art/music. Visit http://fdlrshrd.nefec.org/elemk6.
- Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum Online Content Review Module - helpful for ESE-certified educators, middle grades general educators, middle grades administrators seeking a resource to share, and individuals working with middle grades content in the areas of language arts, math, science and social science. Visit http://fdlrshrd.nefec.org/ic.
- Additional Professional Development Resources - The Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) coordinated the Professional Development Alternatives for Exceptional Student Educators (PDA-ESE) program which offers eight online modules to all educators. Seven of the eight modules provide 60 in-service points and one provides 30. The newest module, Differentiating Reading Instruction for Students, is also approved by the Just Read! Florida Office for competencies 4 and 5 of the Reading Endorsement.
Upcoming Events
Save the Date: 2nd Annual Summer Plant Camp for TeachersJune 8-12, 2008 (Gainesville)
This summer a small but dedicated group of teachers will be happily tromping through aquatic and upland habitats, learning all about Florida’s native, non-native and invasive plants… and you could be one of them. The 2nd Annual Summer Plant Camp will provide participants with at least 44 hours of professional development credits earned while enjoying some very cool field trips, hands-on plant ID sessions, lab activities, classroom lectures and curricula development. The goal of the “camp” is to inspire teachers to take this new knowledge about Florida’s plant life back to their students. Teachers will be chosen and sponsored through an application process that requires recommendations and a brief essay. This workshop is sponsored by the UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Invasive Plant Management, and is free for participating teachers.
For more information about this year’s workshop, learn how to apply, and to watch a video about the workshop, visit the Florida Invasive Plant Education Initiative and Curriculum.
For a glimpse of last year’s workshop, visit the 1st Annual Silent Invaders Summer Workshop 2007.
Teacher resources are available on the Education portion of the website.
2008 Legislative Session: How to Stay Informed
The 2008 Florida legislative session officially convenes on March 4. You can stay informed about the issues that matter to you by visiting “Online Sunshine,” the official Web site of the Florida Legislature, located at: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/. You can also access “Online Sunshine” via the “Just for Teachers” website under “Education Legislation” at http://www.fldoe.org/justforteachers.
Money-Saving Offers
Discounted Prescription Medications: The Florida Discount Drug Card ProgramIf you or someone you know does not have prescription drug coverage, the Florida Discount Drug Card Program may be able to help with medication costs. Individuals qualify for the discount card if they are age 60 and older and do not have prescription drug coverage or if they are in the Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage gap. Individuals, families and seniors under age 60 may be eligible if they have an annual income of less than 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Level and do not have prescription drug coverage. Qualifying annual incomes for individuals under age 60 are up to $30,636 for an individual, $41,076 for a family of two and $61,956 for a family of four. Income limits for other family sizes are also available on the Florida Discount Drug Card Program Web site. To learn more and enroll, visit http://www.floridadiscountdrugcard.com/.