Legislative information, news and links.
The 2019 legislative session did not make any changes to the McKay Scholarship Program. Since many schools accepting McKay Scholarships also accept the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, the board wanted to present the expansion and changes to the FTC scholarship. We appreciate the Florida Association of Nonpublic School allowing us to share their End-of-Session Report. […]
Accountability Legislation Passes The Coalition of McKay Scholarship Schools and numerous other stakeholders in the different scholarship programs worked with the education staff in the House of Representatives and with various representatives to develop accountability measures within the scholarship programs. PCS for HB 7055 addressed numerous issues other than scholarship accountability but we tracked the bill and […]
HB 829 – Removing the Prior Year HB 829, sponsored by Representative Plasencia, originally started with the goal of removing the prior year as a requirement for eligibility in the McKay Scholarship Program. Due to the funding structure of the McKay Scholarship, this has not been deemed feasible. Rep. Plasencia has worked with the Education Inovation Committee and replaced […]
Legislation Pending (December 6, 2017) The Legislature has begun committee meetings and planning for the 2018 session. House and Senate bills have already been filed concerning the McKay Scholarship Program. SB 564 (Sen. Young) – companion bill HB 399 (Rep. Mariano) has been filed. The Coalition’s Legislative Committee has been reviewing the bill and has had […]
The Coalition’s Legislative Initiative in 2013
During the latter part of 2012 and the beginning of 2013, the requirement of mandated state testing for schools that accept voucher/scholarship programs was raised in the press and on some educational blogs.
The Coalition of McKay Scholarship Schools has always supported Senator John McKay and the Legislature’s initial rationale for not requiring state testing for the McKay Scholarship Program. Their rationale was that the McKay Scholarship Program was designed for the diversity of children with disabilities, for whom one size does not fit all. Parents were to be able to choose schools whose programs and assessments met the needs of their children.
In 2013, The Coalition sent a survey to all McKay Scholarship Schools in February to determine what the effect of testing would have on acceptance of students taking the scholarship. (See Survey Results) Sixty-one percent of the schools answering the survey said they would withdraw from the McKay Scholarship Program if state testing was mandated. This would tremendously limit the educational choices that parents have for their children with disabilities.
On February 26th, The Coalition’s president, Steve Hicks, board member Robyn Rennick, director of the Dyslexia Research Institute, Dr. Patricia Hardman, and Marion Hammer met with Governor Scott and Commissioner Bennett and took the survey results and our concerns to them. The governor and commissioner assured us that requiring FCAT and other mandated testing in private schools that accepted students in the McKay Scholarship program was not their intention.
However, they also pointed out that we needed to be very active with legislators to bring them the information contained in the survey showing that schools were accountable and responsibly testing and providing results to the parents. 97.5% of the schools who answered the survey reported that they administered some type of formal assessment.
While there is no current bill requiring FCAT or mandated testing for McKay students, Senate Bill 1400 has been filed which requires students engaged in the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship to take the FCAT. It would be very easy for legislators to amend that bill to require FCAT for McKay students.
Please contact your representatives with this survey information and the message that students on the McKay Scholarship have to be taught differently and schools have to be allowed to choose the assessment that matches their needs.
Keeping the McKay Scholarship Mission and the options it provides to our students is crucial. Parents and schools are the best way to educate and reeducate our legislators as to the uniqueness of the program.
Developing relationships with your legislators and public officials is a continuous, on-going process. For tips on how to build these contacts and relationships, read:
Developing Relationships with Your Legislators
To find your legislator, go to:
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http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/representatives.aspx
2020 Legislative Initiative
Legislative InitiativesRevising the McKay Funding Formula The Coalition of McKay Scholarship schools has been concerned with the disparity between the scholarship amounts for McKay students and other scholarship programs. McKay students’ scholarships at the 251 levels and the 504 students are lower than scholarships for students on the new Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES). We ran […]