Title
MOTION TO APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PEMBROKE PINES ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, ACADEMIC VILLAGE AND FSU ELEMENTARY CHARTER SCHOOL ADVISORY BOARDS FOR DISTRIBUTION OF THE 2025-2026 FLORIDA SCHOOL RECOGNITION PROGRAM (A+) FUNDS.
Summary Explanation and Background
SUMMARY EXPLANATION AND BACKGROUND:
1. As authorized in Florida Statute 1008.36, the Florida School Recognition Program is an incentive program created by the State to provide financial awards to public /charter schools that demonstrate outstanding achievement by receiving an "A" grade, and to schools that improve at least one letter grade.
2. In November 2025, the State finalized the 2025 School Recognition Award Grades for the Elementary, Middle, Academic Village and FSU Elementary Charter Schools, and awarded the Charter Elementary, Middle, Academic Village and FSU Elementary each with an "A" grade.
3. As such, the Charter Schools will receive funds from the State through the 2025-2026 Florida School "A+" Recognition Program. This year's program award amount is based on each school’s per full-time equivalent (FTE) students in comparison to every eligible school. (See Exhibit 1. Florida Recognition Awards Memo). The fund allocation for the City of Pembroke Pines Charter Schools is as follows:
|
School Site |
A+ Allocation |
|
Location 5051- Charter Elementary |
$172,060.00 |
|
Location 5081- Charter Middle |
$113,738.00 |
|
Location 5121- Charter High (AVCS) |
$181,562.00 |
|
Location 0351- FSU Elementary |
$59,688.00 |
|
Total |
$527,048.00 |
4. The process for distribution of the A+ Recognition Funds is that only the teachers and non-instructional staff that remained employed from the previous school year can vote on a method for disbursing the funds to employees. Each recognized school forms a committee that consists of instructional staff, non-instructional staff, and advisory board members. This committee then surveys all employees and determines who is eligible to receive the award based on their employment status and what percentage each eligible employee receives. The committee then prepares a ballot that consists of several fund disbursement options wherein the eligible employees vote on through secret ballot. Once the votes at each site have been tabulated, the results are forwarded to the Advisory Boards for approval and then forwarded to the City Commission for final approval.
5. The State requires that all recognized schools have their distribution agreement approved by their governing board by February 1st. The following was established as a result of this deadline:
a) The Pembroke Pines/ FSU Elementary Advisory Board met on June 5, 2025, and approved the percentage allocation for the distribution of the A+ recognition funds for the Pembroke Pines/FSU Elementary School as voted on by the specified teachers and non-instructional staff at the Pembroke Pines/FSU Elementary School (See Exhibit 2. June 2025 FSU Elementary Meeting Summary and Exhibit 3. Approved FSU Elementary A+ Distribution Plan).
b) The Academic Village Advisory Board met on November 10, 2025, and approved the percentage allocation for the distribution of the A+ recognition funds for the AVCS as voted on by the specified teachers and non-instructional staff at the Academic Village Charter School (See Exhibit 4. November 2025 AVCS Meeting Summary and Exhibit 5. Approved AVCS A+ Distribution Plan).
c) The Charter Elementary/ Middle Advisory Board met on December 2, 2025, and approved the percentage allocation for the distribution of the A+ recognition funds for the Pembroke Pines Charter Elementary Schools and Pembroke Pines Charter Middle Schools as voted on by the specified teachers and non-instructional staff at the Pembroke Pines Elementary and Middle Schools. (See Exhibit 6. December 2025 Charter Elem-Middle Meeting Summary, Exhibit 7. Approved Elementary A+ Distribution Plan and Exhibit 8. Approved Middle A+ Distribution Plan).
6. Recommend City Commission to approve the recommendations of the Charter School Advisory Boards for the distribution methods of the 2025-2026 Florida School Recognition Program (A+) Funds.
Financial Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT DETAIL:
a) Initial Cost: $527,048.00.
b) Amount budgeted for this item in Account No: A budget will be created to distribute these funds once the allocation amounts are provided by the State, utilizing the 335975- Governor's A+ Funds revenue accounts for Elementary, Middle, AVCS and FSU Elementary charter schools, and the applicable FICA and personnel expenditure accounts. In aggregate, the charter school budget will increase by $527,048.00.
c) Source of funding for difference, if not fully budgeted: Not Applicable.
d) 5 year projection of the operational cost of the project: Not Applicable.
e) Detail of additional staff requirements: Not Applicable.
FEASIBILITY REVIEW:
A feasibility review is required for the award, renewal and/or expiration of all function sourcing contracts. This analysis is to determine the financial effectiveness of function sourcing services.
a) Was a Feasibility Review/Cost Analysis of Out-Sourcing vs. In-House Labor Conducted for this service? Not Applicable.
b) If Yes, what is the total cost or total savings of utilizing Out-Sourcing vs. In-House Labor for this service? Not Applicable.