Statewide School Choice Parent Advisory Council Update

Meetings Scheduled in Miami and Tallahassee

PACArticle Submitted by: Bill Storms

The newly formed “Statewide School Choice Parent Advisory Council” has now completed four official meetings. The fourth was held on February 19th, 2009 at Nova University in Miami and the fifth is scheduled for April 7th, 2009 at the “Academies on the Hill” Conference in Tallahassee. This new resource for parents will provide oversight on information and options for feedback. The Council will create a platform for parent information on all Choice Options by establishing a much needed communication link between local School Choice stakeholders and the Department of Education. The statewide council is currently involved in establishing local advisory councils which will meet with the state advisory council on a regional basis. This statewide group, composed of School Choice stakeholders including parents, school district Choice leaders, and others with a special interest in School Choice, is a resource to interact with parents throughout the state for issues and concerns related to School Choice. Coupled with our Parent Resource Centers, the Parent Advisory Committee will pursue its mission that “All Florida parents will be informed about all educational options and opportunities.”

Directing the last four meetings, including two conference call meetings, Chairman Bill Storms led the group in discussions to attain the goals of the statewide council. In previous meetings, the group reviewed the proposed goals and discussed the approach and format to be utilized for the next SCPAC meetings. A face to face meeting including an orientation was held in Orlando on November 18, 2008. The members determined the need for a significant amount of work at the recent meeting in Miami. Those attending the first meetings received a Certificate of Appointment from Florida Commissioner of Education, Dr. Eric J. Smith.

 

PACThe agenda for the meeting in Miami on February 19th is:

  • Review and finalization of the bylaws,
  • Discussion related to changes to the Choosing a School for Your Child in Florida booklet,
  • Updates of individual council member’s communication with district contacts,
  • Suggestions for ‘wish list’ concerning SCPAC secure online site (schoolchoice.org),
  • Florida School Choice History presentation, and
  • Parent Resource Center visits

The Miami SCPAC meeting was hosted by the FPSCC and Dr. Judith Stein at Nova Southeastern University.  In the four hour meeting, the Council elected Steve Hicks of Center Academy (Lutz, Florida) to serve as Vice Chairman.  The Council also reviewed and edited the Council Bylaws, reviewed and suggested changes to the “Choosing a School for Your Child in Florida” booklet, considered a strategy for forming and organizing local School Choice Advisory Councils and finally received a lesson on Florida School Choice History provided by Jean Miller, Executive Director of the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice.  The Council then toured some of the excellent Parent Resource Centers in the area including the PRC at North Miami, the PRC at the School Board of Miami-Dade County and then the PRC at Saint La Haitian Community Agency.  The Miami meeting of the SCPAC was very productive and will move the council quickly forward in providing oversight, resources, and information for parents who are seeking information or currently taking advantage of School Choice.

These SCPACs provide an exciting new level of support for all CHOICE OPTIONS in Florida.

If you are interested in serving on a local Parent Advisory Council, please contact Yolanda Miranda-Hill, Voluntary Public School Choice Manager at (850) 245-9077 or by email at Yolanda.Miranda-Hill@fldoe.org.

You may contact Chairman Bill Storms directly by email at captwindy@comcast.net.