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Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) expresses significant concern regarding the proposed revisions to Florida Statute 1011.62 in HB 5101, which pertain to program funding through add-on Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) for Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge (AICE), Dual Enrollment (DE), and Career and Professional Education (CAPE). The proposed changes reduce add-on FTE funding by 50% and would have a detrimental impact on our schools. A 50% reduction in add-on FTE would result in an estimated financial loss of $16,835,797 for OCPS, based on the most recent funding distribution of $33,671,594 for add-on FTE, of which 100% has been fully allocated for utilization.
Spending Insights:
For the years required in the FDOE survey, 56% of funds directly support teacher compensation, a critical factor in the recruitment and retention of highly qualified educators within these specialized programs, thereby ensuring successful student outcomes. Furthermore, 36% is strategically invested into professional development, instructional resources, equipment, examination fees, career and curriculum counselors, and on-the-job training or apprenticeship initiatives.
OCPS understands the concerns surrounding the optics of carrying these funds forward, where it appears programs and schools are holding onto the funds and not using them. This is simply not the case for OCPS schools. While the FDOE survey provides good initial insight into how these funds are expended, a deeper look is needed to capture the full picture. Many of these programs can be costly to operate with items that fall into the generic FDOE “other” category. These items may include things such as specific lab materials and secure chemical storage needed for AP/IB/AICE lab science courses, production props needed for IB Theatre and AICE Drama, research databases needed for AP Seminar, AP Research, AICE Global Perspectives, and IB Theory of Knowledge courses, professional editing software for AICE Media Studies, and many more specialized resources critical to program success. Additionally, funds are utilized to cover substitute costs for necessary teacher professional learning along with other program dues and fees.
Potential unintended consequences of 50% reduction:
● Fewer qualified teachers instructing students
● Fewer professional learning opportunities for teachers
● Increased cost to families for required assessment/exam fees and specialized materials
● CAPE course equipment and materials that fall behind the industry standard
● Limited course and program options for students
Transparent policy alternatives to ensure responsible and proper fund use, rather than cuts:
● Require districts to submit an annual expenditure report for add-on FTE with a more specific breakdown of “other” expenditures
● Implement a timeline on unspent funds before they are returned or reallocated
● Define allowable and prohibited expenditures to ensure alignment with program goals
With these modifications, OCPS can ensure that valuable funds are used appropriately to support students’ and teachers’ success in these courses.