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2004 Approved Platform Items

Arts in Education/Essential Curricula

Whereas, The Florida PTA believes that a quality education should include a comprehensive Fine Arts Curriculum because arts courses address culture, inclusiveness and diversity

Whereas, Studies show students who are involved in the arts gain self discipline, enhanced creativity, and improved thinking skills

Whereas, Studies show a correlation between the arts and student performance

Whereas, Involvement in the arts provides opportunities to succeed in a career path leading to employment in the billion dollar Arts Industry and enhances Florida’s Economic Development

Whereas, All forms of art were used to record history and are still used today. We continue to record history through many forms of arts including, but not limited to, Visual Arts, Photography, Dance, Theater, Music, Drama, Film and Literature

Whereas, All children deserve the opportunity to participate in quality fine arts programs that enable them to meet Florida Sunshine State Standards (Florida Statute 1003.41) and Pupil Progression Plans

Whereas, Work needs to be done to bring equity, clarity and strength to all the fine and performing arts teacher certification fields so that our children receive a quality arts education, therefore, be it

Resolved, That as Florida recommends every school district place grater emphasis on arts education and increase opportunity for student participation in the arts, incorporating the Florida State Sunshine Standard approved by the State Board of Education, and be it further

the arts be taught by teachers certified in their specific arts subject area and become aligned with the National Standards (No Child Left Behind) and the Sunshine State Standards and be it further

Resolved, That the Florida PTA urges the State Legislature to include and fully fund Arts instruction as part of the PreK - 12 curriculum at all schools without taking funding from existing programs

Class Size Reduction - Removed, Florida PTA already has a Position on this issue

Daily Recess

Whereas, Recess is a scheduled time for supervised, active, unstructured play and

Whereas, Recess has been eliminated from many elementary schools in Florida to meet the more vigorous academic demands of educational accountability, and

Whereas, Recess is a developmentally appropriate outlet for reducing anxiety, managing stress and learning self control in children, and

Whereas, Physical fitness and time spent at school on unstructured play have been linked to increased academic achievement, and

Whereas, A recent report of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) shows the percentage of American children who are overweight has doubled in the past 20 years and tripled since 1970, and

Whereas, A recent study done by the CDC indicates an alarming increase in Type 2 Diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases among children and youth due to a lack of physical activity and

Whereas, The National Association for Sport and Physical Activity recommends that kids 6-11 years of age should be physically active several hours a day including recess time, and

Whereas, The Surgeon General is urging more physical activity in schools. Therefore be it

Resolved, That Florida PTA urges school districts to require daily recess (defined as supervised, active, unstructured play) of at least 20 consecutive minutes for all elementary children with adequate equipment and adequate supervision

2003/04 Approved Platform items

Teacher Certification

Resolved,  That the Florida PTA support the certification process for public school teachers be no less stringent than exists in Florida Statute 1012.56 effective January 1, 2003. As follows: the applicant must document receipt of a bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited institution of higher learning, or a non-accredited institution of higher learning that the Department of Education has identified as having a quality program resulting in a bachelor’s degree, or higher. Each applicant seeking initial certification must have attained at least a 2.5 overall grade point average on a 4.0 scale in the applicant’s major field of study. Further, each applicant must:

Resolved,    That the process fro alternative teacher certification be no less rigorous than that for traditional teacher certification.

Voucher Funded School Accountability

Resolved,  While continuing to oppose vouchers in all forms, that Florida PTA urges the Legislature to impose strict eligibility requirements on private institutions and nonpublic K-12 schools receiving public dollars through any state funded voucher, grant or scholarship programs, and at a minimum, require them to meet the same accountability standards at their cost as public schools, including, but not limited to:

1)      School wide participation in any statewide assessment program, by mandating all current standardized tests, i.e., FCAT and Florida Writes;

2)      Assignment of an annual school performance grade category designation and improvement rating, to be published in the Commissioner of Education’s annual statewide assessment report;

3)      Compliance with Florida Public Records Laws and requirement for independent audits to assess how taxpayer money is being spent.

4)      Regulations to ensure private institutions and nonpublic schools are adequately equipped to meet the educational needs of their students.