Duval County students continue to advocate for advanced education programs amid proposed state cuts, at Tuesday night school board meeting.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Duval County students raised their voices again to protect the future of their education.
At the final school board meeting of this school year, they’re taking a stand against legislation that could slash funding for advanced programs.
A group of DCPS students expressed to First Coast News that they are determined to continue their advocacy for their advanced programs, as they spoke at the city council meeting a few weeks back.
Tuesday night during the school board meeting, their fight continued.
“This issue greatly impacts us and future generations of Duval students,” commented Zaineb Mansi, a junior at Darnell-Cookman School of the Medical Arts.
Jarrett Kelley is a junior at Wolfson High School. He’s already earned 15 college credits and will earn 30 by the end of the school year.
Kelley said AP and dual enrollment courses made that possible.
Potential funding cuts from the state to those accelerated programs has Kelley and other Duval County students pleading with the school board.
“The money should follow the student. Well, I ask that you honor that,” said Jarrett Kelley, a junior at Wolfson High School.
“Join us by supporting students, teachers, and public schools as they voice opposition to these bills,” urged Kaden Young, a junior at Duncan Fletcher High School.
“Put your name on the right side of history and keep your seat on the school board,” said Anna Jones, Senior at Wolfson High School.
According to Duval County School Board chairwoman, Charlotte Joyce, traditionally funding from these programs came in the form of two different allocations: $852 per student at the beginning of the school year and $852 at end of the year, totaling $1,704.
However, if Senate Bill 2510 and House Bill 5101 pass, then the second allocation of $852 would be split and half of the money would go to the school, and the other half would move to the district’s discretionary fund. The district would then have the option to move those funds back to the program or use the funding for other things.
“In our conversation with the Superintendent, his desire is to move those funds and keep those funds at that district level to fully fund those programs,” said School Board Chairwoman Charlotte Joyce. “I support that.”
“In the event that these vicious cuts pass,” Kelley said. “I want to ensure that they follow through with their promise to let the money follow the student and ensure that we get every cent that we’ve earned with our hard work back to our school.”
“They say the money should follow the student,” Young said. “We want the best for our students. Well, if you want the best for every student then why cut our funding. Why take away our programs that are so vital to our education.”
“We won’t stop fighting and we hope we are inspiring other children to fight for things that are impacting them,” Jones said.
This group of DCPS students says they plan on continuing their fight in Tallahassee and going before state lawmakers to make their concerns known, in the coming weeks.
