The document discusses the state of public education funding in Florida. It notes that the Florida Constitution mandates that the state provide adequate funding for public schools. However, funding has been cut in recent years, with the Flagler County school district facing a potential 15% reduction. This could result in the elimination of programs like art, music, sports and more. The document urges residents to contact legislators to advocate for increased education funding and outlines ways citizens can get involved to address the issue.

3. Information Express
Constitution of the
State of Florida
Article IX. Section 1. Public Education

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“The education of children is a fundamental
value of the people of the State of Florida. It is,
therefore, a paramount duty of the state to
make adequate provisions for the education of
all children within its borders. Adequate
provision shall be made by law for a uniform,
efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system
of free public schools that allows students to
obtain a high quality education”

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Flagler is an “A” rated district
by the State of Florida.

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Flagler is an “A” rated district
by the State of Florida.
Flagler is the only district in
Florida where all traditional
schools are rated “A.”

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Flagler is in an elite group
of districts in the South
that is accredited by the
Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools.

13. What Happened to budgets

14. What Happened to budgets
In the past two years we
have been cut 7 times for a
total of 7.5 million.

15. What Happened to budgets
In the past two years we
have been cut 7 times for a
total of 7.5 million.
First time in 37 years State
funding has gone
backwards.

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According to the 2005-06
U.S. Census Bureau,
Florida ranks 50th in per
capita spending for K-12
education.

19. Public Education Funding
Sources

20. Public Education Funding
Sources
Sales Tax

21. Public Education Funding
Sources
Sales Tax
Local property taxes

22. Public Education Funding
Sources
Sales Tax
Local property taxes
Lottery (less than 1%)

24. Truth or myth

25. Truth or myth
Public Schools will be held
harmless from recently
approved tax cuts
including Amendment 1.

26. Truth or myth
Public Schools will be held
harmless from recently
approved tax cuts
including Amendment 1.
This is a Myth. (Portability)

28. Truth or myth

29. Truth or myth
Public Schools have
been cut less than other
areas of government.

30. Truth or myth
Public Schools have
been cut less than other
areas of government.
This is a Myth.

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For the 2009-2010 school
year the State faces an
additional $2.5 billion
shortfall in revenues just
to fund to current levels.

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If the State accomplishes
a balanced budget with
cuts alone, it will cost
public schools 1.1 billion
dollars in lost revenue.

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Property tax collections
Statewide and in Flagler
County are falling which
will cause an additional
budget shortfall.

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If public education is cut
by current estimates it will
mean a 15% reduction in
current revenue for Flagler
County. (15 million)

40. What Does This Mean for
Flagler?

41. What Does This Mean for
Flagler?
Education as we
know it will change
in our community.

43. What we could lose

44. What we could lose
Alternative Programs
($1.9 million)

45. What we could lose
Alternative Programs
($1.9 million)
Sports Programs ($700,000)

46. What we could lose
Alternative Programs
($1.9 million)
Sports Programs ($700,000)
Reduction In Staff

47. What we could lose
Alternative Programs
($1.9 million)
Sports Programs ($700,000)
Reduction In Staff
Elementary Art ($312,069)

49. What we could lose

50. What we could lose
String Programs ($70,575)

51. What we could lose
String Programs ($70,575)
Music / Band ($914,641)

52. What we could lose
String Programs ($70,575)
Music / Band ($914,641)
Elementary Spanish
($126,693)

53. What we could lose
String Programs ($70,575)
Music / Band ($914,641)
Elementary Spanish
($126,693)
Elementary PE ($1,107,641)

55. What we could lose

56. What we could lose
Transportation (2 mile)

57. What we could lose
Transportation (2 mile)
Shuttles

58. What we could lose
Transportation (2 mile)
Shuttles
Clubs

59. What we could lose
Transportation (2 mile)
Shuttles
Clubs
Community Use of Facilities

61. What Can You do for Flagler?

62. What Can You do for Flagler?
Contact your legislators through
phone calls, emails, letters and
visits.

63. What Can You do for Flagler?
Contact your legislators through
phone calls, emails, letters and
visits.
Tell Legislators it is their
paramount duty to adequately
provide funding for high quality
public education.

65. What Can You do for Flagler?

66. What Can You do for Flagler?
Encourage local
control and flexibility.

67. What Can You do for Flagler?
Encourage local
control and flexibility.
Educate yourself about
the State budget.

69. What Can You do for Flagler?

70. What Can You do for Flagler?
Attend local education
rallies.

71. What Can You do for Flagler?
Attend local education
rallies.
Visit legislators.

72. What Can You do for Flagler?
Attend local education
rallies.
Visit legislators.
Go to Tallahassee for
Education Rally on March 18.

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76. What Can You do for Flagler?

77. What Can You do for Flagler?
Demand no new State projects or
unfunded mandates until
education is fully funded.

78. What Can You do for Flagler?
Demand no new State projects or
unfunded mandates until
education is fully funded.
Advocate for Students.

79. What Can You do for Flagler?
Demand no new State projects or
unfunded mandates until
education is fully funded.
Advocate for Students.
Encourage the elimination of
certain sales tax exemptions.

81. Non or under funded mandates

82. Non or under funded mandates
Transportation
(1.5 million)

83. Non or under funded mandates
Transportation
(1.5 million)
Class Size
(1.4 million)

85. Non or under funded mandates

86. Non or under funded mandates
Comprehensive
Reading Plan
($475,000)

87. Non or under funded mandates
Comprehensive
Reading Plan
($475,000)
ESE (5.4 million)

89. Impact of education on the economy
The Wall Street Journal
October 21, 2008
Cutting the number of dropouts in half would generate $45 billion annually in
new tax revenue, according to America’s Promise. Jay Smink, director of the
National Dropout Prevention Center at Clemson University, says the difference
in lifetime salary for a dropout and a high school graduate is about $300,000.
“In a global economy, the single most important issue facing our country is
an educated work force, “ says Houston Mayor Bill White.
With other studies also showing increases in the number of students who aren’t
graduating, public officials are concerned those numbers will mean rising costs
for social programs and prisons, as well as lost tax revenue because of the
reduced earnings potential of dropouts. Dropouts are disproportionately
represented in the criminal justice system, including about 75% of state prison
inmates.

91. Who needs to get involved?

92. Who needs to get involved?
YOU and...

93. Who needs to get involved?
YOU and...
Your neighbors, friends and family

94. Who needs to get involved?
YOU and...
Your neighbors, friends and family
School Boards and Districts across the
State

95. Who needs to get involved?
YOU and...
Your neighbors, friends and family
School Boards and Districts across the
State
Parents, business/community members
and leaders

96. Who needs to get involved?
YOU and...
Your neighbors, friends and family
School Boards and Districts across the
State
Parents, business/community members
and leaders
Professional and Civic Organizations

98. Information Express
You Can Make A
Difference. Let Your
Voice Be Heard!