There has been a significant increase in behavior concerns in our schools across all levels within the past year – particularly in middle and high school. The impact of the pandemic and other factors on mental health and student behavior is causing concerns for our students, teachers, administrators, district staff, families, and the entire community. We must work together to develop solutions.

ACCPTA has met and continues to meet with district staff to discuss these concerns and find out what the community can do to help. In December, the district let us know they would be conducting a pilot program that would provide two days of focused behavioral training to three teachers at a small number of elementary, middle and high schools. This is a start, but we know there is more to be done.

Staff shortages at schools are contributing to the problem, including a shortage of School Counselors that has worsened this past year. None of our schools have the recommended counselor to student ratio (1:250), which is a statewide issue ACCPTA has been advocating about for many years. Many local schools have openings for counselors that remain unfilled. In addition, our local middle schools lost much-needed behavior paraprofessional positions last summer. We are advocating to get these positions back, as we believe this will have a positive impact on student behavior. We are inquiring about restoring alternative school environments to provide high needs students with the assistance they need. We also continue to advocate for more bus attendants to address behavior issues on some buses.

This spring, ACCPTA partnered with the UF Department of Clinical Health and Psychology to provide monthly Wellness Wednesday virtual workshops on topics to help address student behavior. View recordings below, including our most recent topic: Reducing Aggression & Bullying. Many of our school-based PTA units have also developed programs and activities to address specific behavioral issues at their own schools

We will be releasing a Call to Action shortly with details about how the community can assist with our advocacy efforts. In the meantime, you can reach out to your school’s PTA or other parent organization, or to the school directly, to get more involved and see how you can help be a part of the solution. Our public schools are significantly under-resourced, and they need the help of the community to succeed.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjTe_C2XW4u3BCD12Q4wqxg

ACCPTA recently sent this information to the School Board to advocate regarding the search for our next Superintendent:

Greetings! I hope you are all doing well as we all navigate the ending of yet another challenging school year.

I’m reaching out on behalf of ACCPTA to request that the School Board conduct a national search for the next Superintendent, and that the process include community input.

We know this is a challenging time for our schools and our district – and for public education as a whole (especially in our state). We have observed a large amount of community discord in recent years, as I know you all have as well. We feel a structured selection process with multiple opportunities for community involvement would pave the way for a smooth leadership transition with community support. Starting the process as early as this summer would allow ample time to gather and use information submitted.

ACCPTA stands ready to assist the School Board with the community input process in any way possible. Please let us know how we can be of assistance to this important process.

Based on legislation that passed this session, the FSA will be rebranded to the “FAST” beginning next year. What does that mean for standardized testing in our schools?

Here’s what we know:

• Students will continue to take assessments as they currently do (ELA in grades 3 – 10, math in grades 3 – 8, Science in grades 5 and 8, etc.).
• The tests will consist of a comprehensive end-of-year exam, as well as two progress monitoring exams that will be added to the school year.
• The high stakes placed on these tests will remain (possible retention in grade 3, school grades, teacher evaluations)
• All tests will be computer-based
• Tests will begin in pre-Kindergarten

Here’s what we don’t know:

• How long each test will take (the bill doesn’t specify)
• When the results will be available
• How school districts will fund additional computers that may be needed
• Which assessment tool will be used
• If the same test security procedures will be needed
• If our district will continue to use the existing progress monitoring exams (the AIMS tests and some district-created end of course exams)

Many of these questions will be answered by the Department of Education and/or Board of Education, hopefully over the summer. We will keep you posted as we hear more!

Boost post

As child advocates, we are very disappointed in the budget proposal approved by the House recently that would fine school districts for responding to local conditions and taking appropriate actions to protect our children. While we appreciate that the Senate’s version of the budget does not include this cut, we hope the cuts will not be reflected in the final version.

Please contact your Senators to ensure that this fine, which will affect 15 positions within our district and equal a loss of $1.7 million, is excluded from the final budget.

Below is the letter ACCPTA wrote to Senator Perry: