It's not the teachers, it's the unions! Rick and Keith welcome Rebecca Friedrichs to the podcast. She is a twenty-eight-year public school teacher who formed "For Kids And Country". It is a national movement of parents, teachers, students, faith leaders, and citizens uniting to restore our schools and culture. She talks about how the teachers' unions are the ones who have destroyed our schools and American values. Learn about how, by overpowering the teaching profession, state and national unions have transformed our schools. What exactly is happening and what can parents and teachers do to stop this? Find out on today's episode of The Florida Citizens Alliance Podcast!

For Kids And Country

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The season is ramping up towards the Legislative Session in Tallahassee, and sometimes people don't realize that the legislative season is almost all year round. Rick and Keith talk about the importance of Legislative Delegation Meetings. By Law, all of the legislators of each county have to come together and have a formal hearing. Along with the help of 3 of Florida Citizens Alliance volunteers, they describe the process of these meetings in detail. How can you get involved? What is the procedure and how can you address these legislators on behalf of FLCA? Learn the details of this very important process and how you can help on today's episode!

Many people do not realize this, but the work of the Legislature starts long before they convene in Tallahassee! Rick and Keith talk about the beginning of committee week and what it means to the process. Together, they bring up the importance of our elected officials to hear from you before session begins. Plus, they lay out the 8 issues on the FLCA Legislative Agenda, including standards, school choice, bullying, school safety, instructional materials and much more. Learn the details of their agenda and how you can help to ensure the State of Florida succeeds in providing a World Class Education to our students!

2020 Legislative Agenda

1. Support Governor DeSantis’ Executive Order 19-32 to write world-class standards and adopt aligned curriculum. These distinctively Florida standards and curriculum will focus on teaching the academic basics of reading, writing, math and civics while eliminating Social-Emotional Learning.
2. Expand parental choice options and eligibility for the Gardiner, Hope, Tax Credit and Family Empowerment Scholarships.
3. Make public schools safe for every child.
4. Improve the legal definition of Instructional Materials used in public schools as textbooks and online, supplemental and library materials.
5. Strengthen Florida’s statutes to protect minors in our schools from exposure to pornographic material. Our children must be legally protected from harmful materials.
6. Incentivize failing school districts to adopt alternative models such as proven IDEA schools and Hillsdale’s Barney program.
7. Advocate for alternate authorizers of K-12 public schools.
8. Align teacher certification with Florida’s new world-class standards and curriculum.

Rick and Keith had a chance to visit with Florida state legislators and talk about education at the Christian Family Coalition Family Legislative Breakfast in Doral. It was an exciting and informative day! Together, they had a chance to speak with Florida State Senator Dennis Baxley, Florida State Rep. Ana Maria Rodriguez and Dr. Karen Gushta about the upcoming legislative session and some of the important educational issues we face. Plus, one Florida teacher has a surprising start to the new school year for his kids! 

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Rick and Keith felt it was so important that parents realize the Florida educational scholarships available that they decided to spend a full episode on it! They talk to Drew Steele from 92.5 Fox News radio in Fort Myers and Naples. Together, they discuss some major changes in the reading curriculum that the Governor announced recently. Do you know about the Gardiner Scholarship? Did you hear about the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship / Family Empowerment Scholarship? How about The Hope Scholarship? These are all available to you right now and can be a tremendous help for Florida families. Find out all about them on today's episode.

The Florida Citizens Alliance

Rick and Keith begin the podcast by talking about some amazing events coming up in education that you won't want to miss! Plus, they discuss an inspiring story from Dan Bongino. He is a former Secret Service agent, Fox News contributor, and host of "The Dan Bongino Show". He talks about how educational choice in his life allowed him to be where he is today. It's an incredible story that will explain more why choice in education is so critical today. Also, Keith updates us on Florida Educational Scholarships that you may not know about! It's all on today's episode.

Get Tickets to See Dan Bongino

Step Up For Students

When it comes to education, is there an unhealthy obsession with standards? Mark Bauerlein joins Rick and Keith on the podcast! He is an English professor at Emory University and senior editor of First Things journal. Together, they talk about how progressive ideas came into education and became institutionalized in our public schools. It led to the deterioration of student learning. Why was a particular common core standard supported by the professor never included in the education system? They discuss the importance of teachers focusing on ELA and how students can thrive with the right reading curriculum. It's an incredible dive into school standards on today's episode!

Learn More About Mark Bauerlein

Buy "The Dumbest Generation"

We begin this week's episode with an update on Mason Classical Academy in Naples and the battle with the Collier County School Board.  Joining the podcast this week is Marion County Superintendent Dr. Heidi Maier.  We touch on a number of subjects ranging from embracing the Florida state motto "In God We Trust" in her schools, the details of Pathway A and how Marion County adopted their own curriculum, which has become extremely successful in a short amount of time.  Dr. Maier discusses the importance of supporting the county's teachers while the changes were implemented.  A fascinating discussion with a true trailblazer in our state.      

Learn more about Dr.Heidi Maier

Across the country, there is a battle going on over Charter Schools. What is a Charter School and why are there certain individuals and groups who want to see them go away? Kelly Lichter joins Rick and Keith on today's podcast. She is the founder of Mason Classical Academy in Naples and she knows first hand about the battles that are being fought over charter schools. Mason Classical is the Number 1 public school in the county and one of the highest performing Charter Schools in the state. So why does the Collier Country Public Schools want their charter pulled? Kelly describes in detail the issues with the district and the facts behind their investigation on this very important episode of The Florida Citizens Alliance Podcast!

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Florida Citizens Alliance

Have you heard about Social Emotional Learning? Well, it's been around for a while, but now it is getting repackaged. Why should you be concerned? Dr. Karen Effrem is with Education Liberty Watch and she joins the show.  Together, they talk about how social-emotional learning (SEL) should not be part of the new standards, despite the effort to make it so. How is it being presented now? Are Common Core and SEL linked? SEL would further erode the fundamental right of parents to control the education and upbringing of their children due to unjustified expansion of the schools beyond their basic mission of academics. Learn more about SEL plus an exciting announcement all on today's podcast!

An Evening With Dan Bongino

Read the White Page Summary

How Common Core and SEL are already tightly linked

Meet ‘Social-Emotional Learning’: New Education Fad, Same As The Old Fads