Resolution 10-1243RESOLUTION NO. 10-1243
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY'COMMISSION MISSION OF THE CITY OF
LONGWOOD, FLORIDA, URGING THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION, THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, AND THE
GOVERNOR TO MAINTAIN CURRENT TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
FOR READING TEACHERS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS IN.
FLORIDA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WHEREAS, section 1003.56 (1), Florida Statutes, entitled "English language instruction
for limited English proficient students", requires instruction "designed to develop the student's
mastery of the four language skills, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing, as rapidly
as possible"; and
WHEREAS, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Miami
Division, Case No. 90-1913, issued a Consent Decree in LULAC v. Florida Board of Education,
in 1990 calling for equal access to all education programs for English Language Learner (ELL)
students, including a mandate for English as a second language (ESOL) endorsement for all
teachers of the English language to ELL students; and
WHEREAS, a 2003 court approved Modification to the LULAC v. Florida Board of
Education Consent Decree (Case No. 90-1913) requires teachers who earn ESOL Certification
coverage solely by passing the teacher examination to additionally have to earn 120 points of in-
service credit in ESOL; and
WHEREAS, proposed State Board of Education rule 6A-6.0907 (4) would waive the
requisite ESOL in-service training requirements for Reading endorsed or certified teachers who
seek to earn ESOL certification coverage solely through examination; and
WHEREAS, in 2007 Governor Crist vetoed SB 2512, a bill to weaken the training.
requirements for reading teachers of ELL students and the bill, re -introduced -in the next.session
as SB 286, died in 2008; and -
WHEREAS, in 2009, CS/SB1680 was introduced during the (final -weeks of the
legislative session as the third failed attempt to bring about a reduction.in ESOL training
requirements for reading teachers; and
WHEREAS, this Commission wants all children to read English, wants -teachers
prepared to teach them to read, and wants monitoring to ensure compliance With the -
requirements stated in the Consent Decree referenced above; and "--" . -
WHEREAS, it makes little sense to withdraw support from children who are already
struggling; and
WHEREAS, at a time when we must strive to be as competitive as possible in a quickly
changing global economy, we cannot afford to lower the bar of expectations and training for our
highly qualified teachers; and
WHEREAS, it is the view of this Commission that maintaining the existing training
requirements for reading teachers of ELL students is in the best interests of the citizens and
residents of Longwood,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Longwood urges the
Florida Department of Education to maintain current training requirements for reading teachers
of English Language Learners.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Longwood urges the members of the
Florida legislative delegation to vote against bills that reduce training requirements for teachers
of ESOL students and requests that the governor veto any such bill should they be approved by
the legislature.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Longwood urges Governor Crist to
request that the State Board of Education rescind its approval of proposed rule 6A-6..0907 (4) and
honor the spirit and language of his veto letter on SB 2512 in all future actions.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Longwood directs the City Clerk to
transmit certified copies of the resolution to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, the
Chair and Members of the Florida State Legislative Delegation and the Commissioner of the
Florida Department of Education.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City of Longwood this � day of �> 2010.
ATTES /
Sarah M. MMirus, MMC, MBA, City Clerk
`i
Approved as to form and legality for the use and reliance of the City of Longwood, Florida, only.
Daniel W. a V&i Attorney