LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT

FLORIDA CATHOLIC CONFERENCE
313 S. CALHOUN STREET * TALLAHASSEE, FL 32301-1807
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UPDATE: The Senate Committee on Governmental Oversight and Productivity to decide whether the loan forgiveness program is to be extended to nonpublic school teachers

ISSUE:






 		 The Critical Teacher Shortage Student Loan Forgiveness Program is presently limited to those teachers who are employed in a public funded school. Sen. Steve Wise, R-5, Jacksonville, will propose an amendment on Tuesday, April 22 that will be offered onto SB 1032 in the Governmental Oversight & Productivity Committee for the loan forgiveness program to be extended to teachers who are certified in subject areas in which critical shortages exist, and employed by a nonpublic school recognized by the Florida Association of Academic Nonpublic Schools.
ACTION:

 		 If your state senator is a member of the Governmental Oversight & Productivity Committee (see contact list below), please ask him or her to support Senator Wise's proposed amendment. Thank you.
WHY:

 		 The proposed amendment was in the Senate version of the School code bill last year and deleted during the "conferencing phase." The amendatory language is good public policy because it:
  • Helps reduce the class size burden on the public school system. For every additional teacher employed in the K-12 private sector, an additional 15-30 children are educated in nonpublic schools.
     
  • Nonpublic schools can enroll students on "waiting lists" when they can employ additional teachers. When nonpublic schools can't hire additional teachers, the children on the private school's waiting list return to public schools.
     
  • For every child educated in a nonpublic school, the state saves miminally $6,000.
     
  • When factoring school operations costs, teacher salaries and benefit, the savings is upward to $9,000.
     
  • Consider the math. A teacher receives a loan up to $2,500 for four years -- $10,000. A nonpublic school teacher educates 15 students. A minimal estimate of $6,000 savings per pupil X 15, less the $2,500 for the forgiveness = $87,500 a year. Over a four year period, the savings is $350,000.
     
  • And by extending the loan forgiveness program to nonpublic school teachers who are certified in subject areas in which critical shortages exist, the state realizes a savings on the front end during the school year. Forgiveness loans are provided to recipients at the end of the school year.
    •

    Senator Steve Wise (Chair) R-5, Jacksonville, 904/573-4900; wise.stephen.web@flsenate.gov
    Senator Lee Constatine, R-22, Altamonte springs, 407/331-9675; constatine.lee.web@flsenate.gov
    Senator Jeff Atwater, R-25, Palm Beach Gardens, 561/625-5101; atwater.jeff.web@flsenate.gov
    Senator Mike Fasano, R-11, New Port Richey, 727/848-5885, fasano.mike.web@flsenate.gov
    Senator Anna Cowin, R-20, Leesburg, 407-331-9675; cowin.anna.web@flsenate.gov
    Senator Posey, R-24, Rockledge, 321/690-3484; posey.bill.web@flsenate.gov
    Senator Les Miller, D-18, Tampa, 813/272-2831; miller.lesley.web@flsenate.gov
    Senator Dave Aronberg, D-27, Greenacres, 561/433-2627; aronberg.dave.web@flsenate.gov
    Senator Al Lawson, D-6, Tallahassee, 850-487-5004; lawson.alfred.web@flsenate.gov

    For more information contact lkeough@flacathconf.org
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