F.A.C.E. to FACE
F.A.C.E. BULLETIN
5/25/06
Thousands of New Scholarships Available for Low-Income K-12 Students
The Massive Failure of Black Males in the American Education System, from the Clergy for Educational Options.
A release from Lt. Governor, Lt. Governor Jennings Hails Enrollment Milestone in VPK Enrollment, Agency for Workforce Innovation.
The Coalition of McKay Scholarship Schools update on issues concerning McKay, CTC and Virtual Schools, Florida Virtual School (FLVS).
Thank you for Stepping Up For Students,
Michael A. Benjamin
Executive Director, F.A.C.E.
Florida Alliance for Choices in Education
8,000 New Scholarships Available for Low-Income K-12 Students
Florida P.R.I.D.E. and Children First Florida, Florida Corporate Tax Credit scholarship funding organizations, will award approximately 8,000 new scholarships for the 2006-2007 school year to Kindergarten through 12th grade students who qualify for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program. Applicants must be currently enrolled in a public school, unless they are entering kindergarten or first grade. Those who qualify may receive up to a $3,750 scholarship for tuition at an eligible private school of their choice or a scholarship for up to $500 for travel expenses to an out-of-district public school. The scholarships provide a fresh start for students who are not succeeding in their current school setting.
This year, $70 million in scholarships will be awarded to qualifying Florida students until funding is exhausted so applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Income limits for scholarship recipients are determined by household size. For example, a family of four can earn no more than $37,000 to qualify. To apply, log on to www.floridapride.org or call (813) 258-2700 for Florida Pride and www.scholarshipfunding.org or call (904) 247-6033 or (407) 702-2607 for a Children First Florida application.
The Florida Corporate Income Tax Credit scholarship program provides K-12 scholarships that currently allow over 14,000 low-income Florida students to attend an eligible private school or out-of-district public school. One hundred percent of corporate contributions go directly to funding scholarships – not a single penny can be used for administrative costs.
Children First Florida - Serving Orlando, Central Florida, Jacksonville and PanhandleHYPERLINK "http://www.childrenfirstcf.org/" \t "_blank"
P.O. Box 49099
Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32240
(904) 247-6033 or (407) 702-2607
cforster@scholarshipfunding.org
Florida P.R.I.D.E. - Serving Tampa Bay, South Florida and Marion County
P.O. Box 1670
Tampa, Florida 33606
(800) 782-9140
info@floridapride.org
School Year 06 - 07 Income Eligibility Guidelines
Persons in Household
Annual Household Income
2
$24,420
3
$30,710
4
$37,000
5
$43,290
6
$49,580
7
$55,870
8
$62,160
9
$68,450
10
$74,740
11
$81,030
12
$87,320
13
$93,610
For each additional person, add
$6,290
Effective from June 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007
May 24, 2006
The Massive Failure of Black Males in the American Education System
Anyone who only wants to talk about the massive failure of Black males in the American education system is now officially part of the problem. Empty words become an unnecessary diversion from one of the worst educational and economic catastrophes to ever confront America. Either we will get into action to solve this problem, or we will watch multiple generations of young Black males become expendable in our society, and literally perish from our communities and our nation.
Take a minute to review the graduation rates for Black males from 20 school districts with 10,000 or more Black male students. According to a 2004 study, "Public Education and Black Male Students: A State Report Card," by The Schott Foundation for Public Education, these districts have the lowest graduation rates for Black males in the country. They are: Cincinnati and Cleveland, Ohio, 19%; Chatham County, Georgia, 21%; Rochester, New York, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Pinellas County, Florida, 24%; New York, New York, 26%; Buffalo, New York, 27%; St. Louis, Missouri, 28%; Duval County, Florida, 29%; Chicago, Illinois, Clayton County, Georgia, and Richmond County, Georgia, 30%; Oakland, California, 31%; Hillsborough, Florida, 32%; Indianapolis, Indiana, Orange County, Florida and Palm Beach County, Florida, 33%; Caddo Parish, Louisiana and Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina, 34%.
Young Black men who are out of school and out of work are more susceptible to illegal activities that will likely result in their incarceration. So far, the Black community has not responded sufficiently to this catastrophe involving its young Black men. In fact, this problem is not even on the radar of many Black churches, businesses, elected officials, media outlets, civil rights and social service organizations. Each day that passes without an adequate response from our Black community leads more young Black men into drugs, gangs, violence, prison and ultimately to their death.
While the massive problem of Black male failure in education and the corresponding issue of high unemployment for Black youth are huge and complex, they are still solvable. This may not be the case in 10 to 15 years. A large part of the solution is a return to the basics of family living with parents, families and communities taking the primary responsibility for educating Black male children. The successful education process starts with the family in the home and community, and continues in school and throughout life. The extent to which Black parents become actively involved in the education of Black male children is the extent to which the destruction of potentially millions of young Black men will stop.
It's time to take the American commitment to an equal education for all children seriously. African Americans stand to benefit the most from school choice and it’s time they are granted an opportunity for a better education than what they are currently receiving.
The United States does not tolerate young Black men being unproductive or counter-productive to the goals of mainstream society. Black males are suspended, expelled and failed in schools at rates that are two to five times higher than students of other races and go to jail at rates five to ten times higher than people of other races. The question arises, “Are young Black men expendable?” The apparent answer from our inaction seems to be a resounding “Yes! They are expendable.”
Fixing this problem will take 35 to 50 years, if we start today. While many individuals and institutions have a powerful role to play, the Black community must supply the leadership, energy and resolve to fix this problem. The government must provide the financial resources and the legislative will. The cost to fund this initiative should be diverted from the Department of Justice and front-loaded into the Department of Education. Foundations and corporations must also participate in this effort with financial support and leadership. The issue of educating Black males must become a 24 hour a day, 365 day a year effort. The proper and successful education of young Black men must become America’s next civil rights movement!
The brunt of this effort will fall to the Black community. This includes:
* Getting Black parents, Black families and the Black community properly involved in the education of Black male children
* Creating and maintaining nurturing, effective, supportive, child-centered, two-parent families
* Reconnecting Black fathers to their children
* Instilling strong educational values in young Black men
* Developing positive community structures, principles, morals and activities to help with the social development of young Black men
* Finding strong, positive role models for young Black men
Any time someone encounters a Black male child or teenager, whether a friend, relative or stranger, he or she should ask, “How are you doing in school?," “What college do you plan to attend?," and “What are your career interests?” The importance, value and power of education must be reinforced constantly for these young men.
While this is a tough problem now, it will become insurmountable unless action is taken immediately. Young Black men want and deserve their place in America. That’s the American way! Who will tell these young men that because they don’t have good academic skills, because they have dropped out of high school, because they can’t find a job, because they have been to jail...they cannot participate in mainstream America? When young Black men realize they have become expendable, are we ready for their reaction?
Agency for Workforce Innovation
Jeb Bush Linda H. South
Governor Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Warren May
May 22, 2006 (850) 245-7130
Lt. Governor Jennings Hails Enrollment Milestone
in Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten Program
TALLAHASSEE – Lt. Governor Toni Jennings announced last Friday at the Early Learning Advisory Council meeting that the total enrollment in Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten program (VPK) surpassed the 100,000 mark in the program’s first year. That total includes the nearly 5,000 children who have so far enrolled for the summer session.
“Florida has established itself as a leader in early learning programs and we continue to be heartened by the responses to this new initiative,” said Lt. Governor Jennings. “With summer enrollment increasing by leaps and bounds I am hopeful that parents will see the value of enrolling their children in a quality program that will further prepare them for kindergarten in August. This is an exciting opportunity for all of Florida’s four-year-old children to get the skills they need to be successful students and productive citizens.“
A recently issued annual report on state preschool programs by a Rutgers University early learning institute shows that Florida’s VPK program is now the second-largest program in the nation in terms of total enrollment and it is the fifth-largest in the percentage of eligible four-year-old children enrolled. The lead states are Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia and Vermont with programs that are 10 to 20 years in existence.
“Our Early Learning partners around the state have really stepped up to the plate and delivered a quality product that is meeting the needs of Florida’s families,” said Linda H. South, Director of the Agency for Workforce Innovation. “The high levels of satisfaction with Voluntary Prekindergarten being expressed by parents and providers alike indicate we are delivering on our promise to Florida voters.”
Registration is currently underway for Florida’s summer VPK program which has starting dates that vary by school district. Parents can contact their local Early Learning Coalition for details. Parents can also register their four-year-old child for the fall session at this time.
Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten program is administered jointly by the Agency for Workforce Innovation’s Office of Early Learning, the Florida Department of Education and the Department of Children and Families. For more information about program details and registration go to www.vpkflorida.com.
The Coalition of McKay Scholarship Schools
May 22, 2006
FYI
Item: Florida Virtual School (FLVS)
Last week several McKay Schools contacted us because they had received information from the Florida Virtual School that McKay Scholarship Students and Corporate Tax Scholarship Students were not eligible to take FLVS courses.
The Coalition contacted both The Choice Office and the Florida Virtual School and pointed out that SB 256 which was just passed allows students in both scholarship programs the right to take a maximum of two FLVS courses a year.
FLVS has updated the language in their “Non-Public School and Charter School Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for 2006-2007” to reflect this change.
If you had already submitted your MOA to FLVS with the old language, you do not have to resubmit the document. However, if you have not submitted the MOA and would like to have students enroll in FLVS, go to http://www.flvs.net/educators/affiliating_with_flvs.php
You may also contact Mary McCool, e-learning Manager, FLVS – office (386) 478-4201 and voice mail (407) 317-3326 X4333 or email MmcCool@flvs.net
Have a great summer.
Robyn A. Rennick, MS
President
Florida Alliance for Choices in Education (F.A.C.E)
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