The tropical depression that formed in the Caribbean has just been upgraded to a tropical storm.  Tropical Storm Laura is forecasted to become a hurricane in the coming days and will bring storm surge, rain and wind to Florida as early as Sunday night and through early next week.

Please follow the National Hurricane Center for regular updates as this storm develops.  Also, please make sure you and your family have a plan in place to keep safe through a hurricane.  Make sure you have at least seven days of supplies.  Below you'll find some resources and contacts that can assist you.

Here's the latest graphic forecast from the National Hurricane Center.

As of Thursday, August 20, there are a total of 588,602 Florida cases and 10,049 deaths related to COVID-19.

Florida reported its lowest number of new COVID-19 cases in two months on Monday, August 17.  The latest reports from the Florida Department of Health (DOH) show that for four consecutive days, the COVID positive test rate is below 8%.

This represents a downward trend that is offering hope in the fight against the virus.

As many students are returning to school this month, it is my hope that we remain careful and diligent in protecting one another, washing our hands, wearing face masks and keeping social distance, when possible. 

Families Have the Right to Choose When It Comes to Education

As Florida is a large and diverse state, Governor Ron DeSantis and the Department of Education (DOE) Commissioner have recognized that it is appropriate for reopening decisions to be made by local school districts and health officials and crafted to suit the unique needs of their communities and schools.

In early June, the Florida Commissioner of Education, alongside Governor DeSantis, issued recommendations to safely reopen Florida’s education system.  Additionally, emergency orders have been issued by the DOE to provide further guidance and expectations. The June guidelines instructed school districts to begin working through mitigating procedures to:

• Reduce risks throughout the school day,
• Create action plans to respond to a confirmed case, and
• Recommend ways to communicate transparently to staff and parents in an effort to instill confidence.

The Department of Education provided Seven Assurances that school districts must address:

• Assurance 1: Assure all brick and mortar schools are open at least five days per week as an option for students;
• Assurance 2: The district must provide the full array of services that are required by law so that families who wish to educate their children with in-person instruction have the opportunity to do so. These services include specialized instruction for students with Individual Educational Plan (IEP) and those services required for vulnerable populations including students from low-income families and students who are English Language Learners (ELL);
• Assurance 3: The district will provide robust progress monitoring to all students, and tiered support must be provided to all students who are not making adequate progress including those learning through innovative teaching methods;
• Assurance 4: The district will work with IEP teams to determine needed services for students with disabilities. IEP teams must follow a student-centered approach with a commitment to ensure that the individual needs of each child are met;
• Assurance 5: The district will work with ELL Committees to identify students who have regressed and may need additional or supplemental support;
• Assurance 6: Progress monitoring data must be shared regularly by the district with DOE; and
• Assurance 7: Districts must extend the same flexibility in instructional methods to every charter school that submits a reopening plan addressing the requirements set forth by DOE.

Each district created plans that work best for the communities they serve and prioritize the safety and security of students and educators. Individual school district plans were due to the DOE by July 31, 2020. The district plans can be found here. 

On August 14th, Second Circuit Court Judge Charles Dodson denied Governor DeSantis' request to dismiss a teachers union lawsuit seeking to overturn the DOE emergency order on re-opening schools.

The state and the Florida Education Association are now in mediation between lawyers for Governor DeSantis and the teachers’ union. If the sides can’t reach an agreement before Wednesday, August 19th, the Judge has set aside August 19th and 20th to hear the lawsuit.

I believe families deserve the right to choose the best option that fits the needs of their families and the educational needs of their children or grandchildren, whether it’s in-person instruction, virtual instruction or homeschool.

Rent and Mortgage Assistance

With support from the Coronavirus Relief Fund, the Florida Housing Finance Corporation is directing $120 million to support homeowners and renters struggling to pay housing expenses such as rent, mortgage payments or emergency repairs.  The goal is to keep them stably and safely housed. The existing State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program in each community is assisting in the distribution of funds.

To learn more about how the funds can be used and who is eligible, visit the FHFC's fact sheet on relief for homeowners and renters.

I hope that this information serves as a useful resource for you as we prepare for hurricane season.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can ever be of assistance.  

Sincerely,

Kathleen C. Passidomo

Senate Majority Leader
State Senator, District 28

Not paid for at taxpayer expense.

Paid political advertisement paid for by Working Together for Florida P.C., 133 South Harbor Drive, Venice, FL 34285.