SUPPORT MUSIC EDUCATION IN OUR SCHOOLS!

There are many important issues that can possibly threaten the quality and availability of music classes offered in your child's school.  Please take an active interest and contact your legislators to let them know how important and beneficial it is to offer music in every school for every child.  Below are some links and e-mail addresses that you can use to contact our local legislators to voice your opinions and concerns as well as a way to keep updated on what legislative decisions may impact music education in our schools.  Remember ..... EVERY VOICE COUNTS!  YOUR OPINION MATTERS!  Most importantly, YOUR CHILD IS WORTH IT!

Florida Music Educators Association Advocacy Information Page:

http://www.flmusiced.org/fmeafsma/advocacy/index.html

Currently, there are two pieces of legislation that can negatively impact our school music programs.  The first issue is a bill that has been drafted mandating that every child, grades 6-8 be required to take 225 minutes of physical education per week.  Though we feel that daily physical education is extremely important, we also know that the legislature tends to make mandates and not fund them.  The "unintended consequences" of this decision means that students will lose their elective choices in order to meet the physical education mandate unless our legislature provides additional funding for more teachers and/or to extend the school day.  When contacting your legislators, please be clear that we are IN SUPPORT of having physical education everyday, but we also want to maintain the opportunities that our children currently have for arts classes as well.  Encourage them that if they enact the legislation requiring PE, that they back it up with the appropriate funding.

The second issue before us is in regards to the class-size amendment.  In order to balance out class sizes to meet the state guidelines, our elective class enrollments will drop and that will have a negative impact on our programs.  Please make sure to check the FMEA Advocacy Information Page for more information on this issue.

The Legislative session runs from March 4th-May 2nd.

To contact your legislators regarding Music Advocacy Issues, please e-mail/write/or call:

Chairman of Pre K-12 Education Committee: Gaetz, Don    Capital Phone: (850) 487-5009 | Dist Phone 1: (850) 897-5747 | Dist Phone 2: gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov

Other Members of the Senate PreK-12 Education Committee:

Senator Frederica Wilson, Vice-Chair (Miami-Dade), Senator Larcenia Bullard (Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe), Senator Lisa Carlton (Sarasota), Senator Ted Deutsch (Broward), Senator Alex Diaz de la Portilla (Miami-Dade), Senator Stephen R. Wise (Duval, St. Johns), Senator Weatherford (Pasco)

Higher Education Committee, Supporting 225 Minute Bill: Constantine, Lee     Capital Phone: (850) 487-5050 | Dist Phone 1: (407) 331-9675 | Dist Phone 2: constantine.lee.web@flsenate.gov

House K-12 Education Committee:

Anitere Flores, Chair (Miami-Dade), John Legg (Pasco), Shelly Vana (Palm Beach), Gary Aubuchon (Lee), Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall (Miami-Dade), Stan Jordan (Duval), Kurt Kelly (Marion), Will Kendrick (Big Bend & N. Florida counties), Curtis Richardson (Leon, Gadsden), Garrett Richter (Collier).

or visit the website listed above for additional legislative contact information.

• FMEA (Florida Music Educators Association) & FSMA (Florida School Music Association) highest priorities are ensuring that the fine arts credit requirement for high school graduation does not change, and that PE requirements for middle school do not negatively affect music programs.
• Please oppose Senator Constantine's bill (S 0610) that mandates PE for 225 minutes weekly for Grades 6-8.
• Booster or parent contacts to these legislators to express concern about these two issues prior to the legislative session would be very helpful.
• See the FMEA legislative webpage for more specifics about these issues as they develop.
• Your help is needed when legislative alerts are sent out.  Responses will usually be needed within 24-36 hours.  As we approach the legislative session, please be certain to monitor your e-mail or the FMEA/FSMA website for legislative alerts.