Subdivision News…

Happy Fall FCEC Members!!! I hope like many other Americans, you participated in the voting process by electing leaders to get us through these difficult economic times.

At the recent CEES (Coalition of Educators of Exceptional Students) meeting held on October 23 at the FCEC Conference in Sarasota, the economy was a key topic and specifically the lack of adequate funding for both general and special education in our state and across the nation.

Bob Cerra, who has been our information specialist (lobbyist) in Tallahassee over the last few years reminded us at the CEES meeting that “Our legislators have the paramount duty to make decisions that reflect a high quality public education that provides an equal opportunity for all, including special education.”

If the legislators in Tallahassee are to understand and become champions of our issues in special education, they must continue to hear our voices. Keeping a watchful eye on legislation and the legislators who make decisions that impact our students and our profession is an important part of our advocacy efforts. Support of CEES is one step in making this continue to happen.

Our state FCEC has generously contributed to the financial support of CEES and the wonderful work that Bob Cerra does on our behalf, but we need to reach out to chapters and divisions throughout the state to contribute whatever their budgets can afford to CEES. Individual members can also contribute whatever they can in support of CEES. Please meet with your local members and commit what you can to keep CEES going! If not, this vital service and representation will be a thing of the past. Any questions can be made to Gayle Zavala (comadre11@aol.com) .

In addition to discussion regarding funding, the representatives at CEES (FCEC, Florida Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, Florida Association for the Gifted, Florida Association of School Psychologists, Florida Association of Social Workers, Florida Council of Administrators of Special Education, Florida Council for Children with Behavior Disorders, Florida Division of Learning Disabilities, Florida School Counselor Association, Pioneer Subdivision Council for Exceptional Children, Florida Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing) collaborated all day Thursday to form a platform that reflected the issues most important in special education.

Once the platform is finalized, an excellent training will be provided in the Spring 2009 by Bob Cerra in Tallahassee for CEES. This includes any FCEC member who is interested in attending. The cost of hotel and travel expenses is the responsibility of the individual chapters/divisions, but the experience is well worth it. I will provide further information as the year goes on regarding the location of the training and making appointments with legislators. There will be many new faces in Tallahassee after the November election, and it is critical that we bring the message and gain support for special education and the legislation that impacts it.

We Educate, We Participate!

Gayle Zavala – FCEC CAN Coordinator 

The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and /or gifted. CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides continual professional development, advocates for newly and historically underserved individuals with exceptionalities and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice.