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One of the FCCB’s key legislative priorities for the 2021 Legislative Session is eliminating the prior-public-school attendance requirement in the Family Empowerment Scholarship and the McKay Scholarship while also continuing to promote educational pluralism and parental empowerment. For the 2021 Legislative Session, Senator Manny Diaz, R-Hialeah, has filed SB 48 which addresses both of these issues. The FCCB strongly supports this bill.

Florida is on the cutting edge of the school choice movement. Over 170,000 students are currently enrolled in one of Florida's five scholarship programs. This includes about 30,000 Catholic school students. Parents of qualifying students can use scholarship funds to pay for costs and tuition at an eligible private school. SB 48 (Diaz), a Catholic Days at the Capitol priority, streamlines and expands access to Florida's K-12 scholarship programs.

SB 52 (Rodrigues, R.) establishes the Dual Enrollment Scholarship Program, providing access to dual enrollment courses for all Florida students. This is an improvement over current law which includes barriers for non-public schools and their students to the many educational advantages of enrollment in both high school and post-secondary courses. Mike Barrett, FCCB associate for education, testified in support of the bill. The bill passed its first committee of reference and is on the agenda for the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, February 9.

The FCCB Education Policy Team has launched a new blog on the FCCB website titled, "Education and the Common Good." This blog will be a place to discuss the mission of the Church as it pertains to education policy.

TALLAHASSEE, FL (July 29, 2020) – Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) is pleased to announce that Michael T. (“Mike”) Barrett, Esq. has joined the staff as an associate for education. Barrett serves as a professional resource person for the FCCB in education matters; coordinates, monitors and advocates issues relating to government programs affecting Florida Catholic schools, their administrators, faculty, and pupils; and represents Catholic education at the state level in Florida and in coordination with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) at the federal level. He represents the FCCB with the Florida Association of Academic Nonpublic Schools (FAANS) and maintains relationships with various school-choice organizations and special needs groups.

In a May 20 letter to Governor Ron DeSantis, Michael Sheedy, FCCB executive director, asked the governor to consider the needs of students in Catholic schools as he decides how to use emergency funding awarded to state governors' offices to meet the needs of students and schools impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding was authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress on March 27.

Scholarships are available to assist with Catholic school tuition for families facing financial difficulties and whose financial situations may have changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Families may qualify for a Step Up for Students scholarship to send their child to a K-12 Catholic school in Florida. For example, a family of four that makes less than $78,600 annually may qualify. For more information, see a video message from Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito of the Diocese of Palm Beach, FCCB education moderator, and visit the website of Step Up For Students.

For decades, Florida has played a leading role in creating policies to empower parents in determining the best schools or programs to serve their children. The state offers a robust lineup of scholarships for students from low-income families or with special education needs. These options offer parents a lifeline of hope and opportunity for their schoolchildren despite facing income or job loss due to the current crisis.

The present COVID-19 pandemic has significantly unsettled people's lives. Many families are isolated at home in order to promote public health. Schools have closed their doors, leaving teachers, parents, and students struggling to adjust to distance learning.

Coach Larissa Maloney at Father Lopez Catholic High School in Daytona Beach has received worldwide attention through her online physical education instruction in response to the distance learning due to the coronavirus. Maloney, head volleyball coach and a PE instructor, started a YouTube Channel, Active Kids 2.0, with the goal of live streaming 30-minute workouts every day in order to keep her students and players active. Her workouts have been a tremendous hit and are reaching and impacting people around the world.

On Friday, March 6, the full House took up HB 7067 (Education), and Rep. Jennifer Sullivan, chair of the House Education Committee, answered questions on the bill. The proposal would accelerate growth of the Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES) program, which provides scholarships for nearly 18,000 students from low-income families to attend non-public schools this year. In addition to boosting the formula that increases the number of students allowed to participate in the program each year, the bill removes the requirement to attend public school the year prior to participation for students in grades 1 and 2. It also allows students to take up to two Florida Virtual School courses per school year without reducing their basic FES scholarship amounts.

On second reading in the House, HB 7103 (Education), was amended with an FCCB supported measure that provides dual enrollment equity for private school students. Public and home-school students currently do not have to pay for dual enrollment courses at nearby colleges. The provision would make college more affordable for Florida families by increasing access to dual enrollment courses at state colleges and universities for private high school students. Certain courses would be made available without requiring payment by the family or the student's school. HB 7103 was placed on third reading for Monday, March 9.

House and Senate committees approved bills that would accelerate growth of the Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES) program, which provides scholarships for nearly 18,000 students from low-income families to attend non-public schools this year. In addition to boosting the formula that increases the number of students allowed to participate in the program each year, the bills remove the requirement to attend public school the year prior to participation for students in grades 1 and 2. They also allow students to take up to two Florida Virtual School courses per school year without reducing their basic FES scholarship amounts

On February 18, an FCCB supported measure that provides dual enrollment equity for private school students was approved by committees in the House and Senate. Public and home-school students currently do not have to pay for dual enrollment courses at nearby colleges.

The Catholic Church proudly advocates for true parental empowerment in education. We support both legislation that expands state scholarship programs as well as a strong system of public education. We support policies, which address the best interests of all schoolchildren. The availability of both private, including faith-based schools as well as a well-funded public education system strengthens all schools. A government-run education monopoly breeds mediocrity and wastes dollars.

Across the nation, colorful signs and banners announcing the 46th annual National Catholic Schools Week are proudly displayed. Alumni are returning to their roots with gratitude to share with today's Catholic schoolchildren their career journeys and life lessons. Activities including community service days, open houses and Masses are being held, all celebrating the academic, spiritual and financial benefits our society reaps from Catholic schools.

On Monday, December 9, James Herzog, FCCB associate director for education, testified on behalf of HB 2565 (Bush III) regarding security funding for non-public K-12 schools that participate in state scholarship programs. The $1 million appropriation will help bolster what schools are already doing to protect children by hardening the physical security of their campuses. Potential improvements include the installation of bulletproof glass, perimeter fencing, gates and locks, visitor screening, and security cameras. HB 2565 passed the House PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee unanimously.

Lisa Brooks, the director of the Saint Rita Pre-School Program in Santa Rosa Beach (located in the diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee) came to Tallahassee on September 17, 2019 to participate in an early learning panel.  This discussion was part of the Florida House of Representatives’ Education Committee meeting that was held during the first committee week of the 2020 Legislative Session.  Ms. Brooks was one of three preschool directors who joined three early learning coalition officials on the panel.  They were asked to discuss ways of identifying and rewarding quality providers in the Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) Education and School Readiness programs. 

SB 7070 (Education Committee) would create the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, a new state-funded program for students from lower-income families to attend eligible non-public schools that meet their educational needs. The measure would also reduce the current 12,974 student waitlist for the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship Program.

The St. John Paul II Catholic High School boys' basketball team was recognized in the Florida Senate and House galleries by Senator Bill Montford and Rep. Loranne Ausley. The Panthers captured their first ever Class 3-A State Championship on March 5. St. John Paul II is located in Tallahassee and was founded in 2001. Coach Titus Nixon is an alumnus of the school who played on the basketball team during his time as a student. Go Panthers!