Florida Legislature Research Articles

Blind Babies Play Program: A Model for Affordable, Sustainable Early Childhood Literacy Intervention through Play and Socialization

The Miami Lighthouse, in its 81 years of service to persons who are visually impaired (that is, those who are blind or have low vision), has adapted to meet the everchanging needs of clients of all ages. To meet the significant needs of visually impaired children--more than 80% of early learning is visual (Blind Babies Foundation, 2012)--the Miami Lighthouse introduced its Blind Babies Program in 2003 after reviewing a number of effective early intervention program models from around the country. The early intervention program is designed to serve more than 80 children each year, along with their mothers or primary caregivers. The goal of the Blind Babies Program is to make it possible for young children who are blind or severely visually impaired to grow and develop to their maximum potential. The Blind Babies Play program began in 2007 and operated for its first three years with volunteer support as a project of the Junior League of Miami. It is a twice-weekly, twohour supplement to the in-home intervention program (in which vision rehabilitation specialists work with blind babies and their parent or caregiver at home or daycare for one hour a week). The Blind Babies Play program therefore provides an additional four hours of group interaction weekly to this vulnerable client group. A total of 73 blind or visually impaired children (unduplicated) have participated in the play program since 2007. Since data collection began (2009-present), the demographics of the children who participated are as follows: 36% female, 64% male, 58% Hispanic, 31% African-American or Haitian, 3% Caucasian, 8% other. Most (66%) of the children have an additional disability. The structured playgroup approach has enhanced the Blind Babies Program objectives to provide ongoing, individualized, one-onone rehabilitative services to participating children according to national standards of best practice; offer training and support to parents or caregivers so they can enhance their child's growth and access needed services and resources; and provide training to professionals who work with visually impaired children to increase the capacity of community organizations to meet the needs of this underserved group. In recent years, early intervention programs funded by the Division of Blind Services (DBS) in Florida receive approximately $2,500 per child annually, yet some members of the Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind (FAASB) estimate the actual cost per child exceeds $5,000. Therefore, supplemental funding from donations or grants is required to fully cover the cost of such services. In contrast, excluding the in-kind support of volunteers and the cost of transportation, playgroups can cost agencies about $500 per child annually. (Playgroup cost estimates per child assume an average class size of 10 children, in-kind volunteer support, staff support at 10% effort, and miscellaneous supplies and snacks.) HISTORY OF FLORIDA'S EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM In 1999, a grandfather who was working fulltime and taking care of his two-year-old blind grandson; the child's mother, who was a young teenager at the time; and a disabled wife asked the Lighthouse in Port Richey, Florida, what services were available for his grandson, who did not crawl, walk, talk, or play independently. The closest early intervention program was at the Pinellas Center for the Visually Impaired and Blind, attendance at which would have involved a 140mile round trip for an already overburdened grandfather. At that time, only 3 of 14 nonprofit vision rehabilitation centers provided services for children under age six in Florida. These three programs were entirely funded with private donor dollars, and the centers were struggling to keep the programs alive. With the help of a freshman legislator, FAASB members organized a grassroots effort to advocate for funding from Florida's legislature for vision rehabilitation programs. …

Pitting the Second Amendment against the First

Do you as a primary care provider value your First Amendment right to free speech? You may be unaware that legislation passed by the Florida legislature in 2011 (The Firearm Owners’ Privacy Act) specifically bars physicians (mostly pediatricians) from discussing with parents firearms safety issues such as keeping guns that are in the home locked away, unloaded, and apart from stored ammunition.1 Six other states — Alabama, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and West Virginia — also have tried to pass the National Rifle Association-backed Firearms Owners’ Privacy Act. This bill was signed by Florida Governor Rick Scott, but fortunately has not yet gone into effect because of a lawsuit filed against Scott and other Florida officials by three physicians and the Florida chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Physicians, 4 days after Scott signed the law.2 Implementation of the law was blocked by US District Judge Marcia Cooke of Miami, who issued a permanent injunction shortly after it was passed, and she then in July 2012 ruled that the law violates doctors’ freedom of speech. Undeterred, the state of Florida has appealed this ruling to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, seeking to overturn Judge Cooke’s ruling. NRA's Impact on Pediatrics Invoking the Second Amendment right to bear arms, the National Rifle Association (NRA) conceived and lobbied for the passage of this legislation. The NRA also succeeded in adding a provision to the Affordable Care Act penalizing doctors for having discussions about gun safety.1 It also prevents doctors from collecting data on guns in the home; however, President Obama recently issued an executive order to indicate that the new health care law, in fact, does not preclude doctors from discussing gun safety with patients and parents. Also due primarily to NRA lobbying efforts, for the past 17 years, Congress has restricted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from collecting data on gun injuries and deaths. The US is home to less than 5% of the world’s population but with approximately 300 million weapons in circulation, has 40% of the world’s guns in civilian hands.3 Many of these weapons are military-style assault weapons for which there is absolutely no legitimate use in a civilian population. The same is true for high-capacity ammunition magazines. These have been the weapons of choice in the series of tragic mass killings, including in Newtown, CT late last year. Meanwhile, handguns are the most common weapon used in what seems the daily urban shootings that in the aggregate take more lives of young people than do mass shootings. We have become a land ruled by the NRA, which is against any change in gun legislation, and certainly against Americans having any evidence-based data with which to formulate opinions. For example, according to the New York Times, in 1996, after CDC research began to contradict NRA dogma that guns in the home made families safer, the NRA kicked into gear and managed to persuade Congress to prohibit the CDC from research that might have an impact on firearms legislation.4 This means we do not have data to formulate policies based upon actual facts such as how effective our current laws are at curbing criminals from committing crimes with guns to how many homes have a firearm in them.5 Public health researchers working with Vice President Biden’s gun violence commission created in the wake of the Newtown killings highlighted that mortality rates from almost every important cause of death have dropped impressively over the past 50 years, and that motor vehicle deaths per mile driven have fallen by more than 80%. In contrast, the US homicide rate, mostly gun-related, is virtually unchanged from the rate in 1950. In 2011, an average of 88 Americans died each day from firearm violence; another 202 were seriously injured. 1. Kroll A. After Newtown, will NRA still demand a ban on docs asking kids about guns? Available at: www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/12/nra-docs-glocks-newtown-gun-control. Accessed Feb. 14, 2013 2. Gibson W. Docs challenge gun lobby to raise safety concerns. South Florida Sun Sentinel. Feb.4, 2013 3. Wintemute GJ. Tragedy’s legacy. N Engl J Med. 2013;368(5):397–399 doi:10.1056/NEJMp1215491 4.Editorial. What we don’t know is killing us. NY Times. Jan.26, 2013. 5. Palfrey JS, Palfrey S. Preventing gun deaths in children. N Engl J Med. 2013;368(5):401–403 doi:10.1056/NEJMp1215606 [CrossRef] . Language: en

Do Medicaid Incentive Payments Boost Quality? Florida's Direct Care Staffing Adjustment Program

Beginning in April 2000 and continuing for 21 months, Florida's legislature allocated $31.6 million (annualized) to nursing homes through a Medicaid direct care staffing adjustment. Florida's legislature paid the highest incentives to nursing homes with the lowest staffing levels and the greatest percentage of Medicaid residents—the bottom tier of quality. Using Donabedian's structure-process-outcomes framework, this study tracks changes in staffing, wages, process of care, and outcomes. The incentive payments increased staffing and wages in nursing home processes (decreased restraint use and feeding tubes) for the facilities receiving the largest amount of money but had no change on pressure sores or decline in activities of daily living. The group receiving the lowest incentives payment (those highest staffed at baseline) saw significant improvement in two quality measures: pressure sores and decline in activities of daily living. All providers receiving more resources improved on deficiency scores, suggesting more Medicaid spending improves quality of care regardless of total incentive payments.

Ignorance of International Law Is No Excuse, or How the Florida Legislature Ticked Off Canada†

During its 2012 session the Florida Legislature amended the text of the Florida Statutes which lists exemptions from the requirements of obtaining a Florida drivers’ license. Removed from the text of Florida Statute 322.04 was the line concerning nonresidents, both fellow Americans and international visitors, “who has in his or her immediate possession a valid noncommercial driver's license issued to the nonresident in his or her home state orcountry[emphasis added].” Inserted was a new line, “An International Driving Permit issued in his or her name in his or her country of residence and a valid license issued in that country.” International visitors were required to have in their possession not only a valid drivers’ license, but also an International Driving Permit (IDP) that translated into English the personal identification information of the driver. The change took effect January 1, 2013, but even before that date, Florida faced allegations that it was violating international law with this new requirement.

Leveling the Playing Field in a Changed Game: Florida's Reduction of Early Voting Days and Its Impact on African-American Voters

This paper will discuss the 2011 Florida Legislature’s alteration of the state election laws in House Bill 1355, specifically the reduction of early voting days from 14 to 8 days statewide and the elimination of early voting on the final Sunday before Election Day. Because early voting, and especially early voting on the final Sunday, was disproportionately used by African-American Floridians in previous elections, the reduction in early voting days has a disproportionate impact on African-Americans. As such, this raises questions of whether the reduction constitutes a violation of § 2 of the Voting Rights Act. In order to analyze this issue, this paper will delve into the Florida election experience in the modern era, specifically the 2008 election which saw a great expansion in the use of early voting, especially by African-Americans, and the 2011 passage of the controversial new election laws which opponents claim restrict the ability of African-Americans to meaningfully participate in the election process. Through the lens of historical VRA § 2 jurisprudence, this paper will analyze HB 1355’s reduction in early voting and its effect on African-American voters in the 2012 election.

Bottling, Labeling and Selling Honey in Florida

In 2011, the Florida Legislature enacted HB 7209 allowing individuals to manufacture, sell, and store certain types of “cottage foods” (including honey) in an unlicensed kitchen. “Cottage food operations,” as they are called, require no licensing or permitting from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and are not inspected by any other state government entity. This revised 4-page fact sheet was written by Nancy Gentry and James D. Ellis, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, August 2012. ENY-159/IN918: Bottling, Labeling, and Selling Honey in Florida (ufl.edu)

Evaluation of a New Elderly Trauma Triage Algorithm

Undertriage is common in patients 55 years and older and is even worse for those 65 and older. In 1999, the Florida legislature implemented a statewide trauma system, including a new Florida trauma triage algorithm (FTTA). This study examines how the new system affected prehospital triage in younger versus older patients. A retrospective review of appropriate triage was conducted at a regional level 2 trauma center during a 1-year period. Patients were considered to have major trauma if they were FTTA positive or had an Injury Severity Score (ISS) of ≥ 16. An internal trauma review panel examined hospital discharge data to assess triage accuracy. Odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. A total of 49% of nontrauma patients 15 to 54 years old were seen at the trauma center compared with 83% of FTTA positive and 86% of patients with an ISS ≥ 16 (OR 2.88, 95% CI 2.44-3.41). For those with an ISS ≥ 16, the OR was 6.53 (95% CI 4.07-10.47). For patients 55 years and older, 52% of nontrauma patients were triaged to the trauma center versus 59% of FTTA positive and 64% of patients with ISS ≥ 16 (OR 1.03, 95% CI 0.93-1.15). Patients 55 years and older with an ISS ≥ 16 had only a slightly increased triage effect (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.08-2.58) compared with those with an ISS 0 to 15 (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.89-1.12). Whereas FTTA appropriately triaged patients 15 to 54 years old to the trauma center, those 55 years old and older were much less likely to be triaged correctly. The reasons for this finding remain unknown, and further studies are needed to investigate and improve elderly triage.

CREOL at 25: A Full Spectrum of Achievements

A quarter-century ago, the Florida legislature funded an optics center to diversify the economy of the state’s central region. Today, it has grown into a full-fledged photonics college known for world-class research.

Regulating a novel drug: An evaluation of changes in use of Salvia divinorum in the first year of Florida's ban

BackgroundA plant with dissociative and psychoactive properties began to attract the attention of the media and United States policymakers following a well-publicized suicide in 2006 and reports that the plant served as a ‘legal high’ and substitute for cannabis. As a result, Salvia divinorum and its active ingredient, salvinorin A, were classified as Schedule I substances by the Florida Legislature on July 1, 2008. As of yet, no research has explored the efficacy of this policy or similar policies in other jurisdictions. MethodsThree self-report studies collected from young adults both prior to and following the policy's implementation are employed to investigate the potential relationship between the policy and usage rates. In addition, law enforcement personnel from the state's most populated areas were interviewed to determine the extent to which they were encountering salvia in their work. ResultsIt was indicated that less than two-thirds of those surveyed were aware of the drug's legal status. Lifetime prevalence of salvia use was largely unchanged. However, the rates of self-reported past year and past month use in Florida were significantly lower following the scheduling. Though use of Salvia divinorum appears to have decreased, perceptions of peer use increased markedly. Law enforcement officers and laboratories reported rarely, if ever, dealing with cases of salvia possession. ConclusionsData suggests the classification of Salvia divinorum as a Schedule I drug was followed by a substantial reduction in recreational use. We caution that other factors may have influenced use, that the efficacy of scheduling novel substances is likely to vary by drug type, that such a reduction in reported use may only exist transiently until a sophisticated illicit market develops to replace the legitimate one, and that a state's success in regulating salvia may be related to their regulation of and enforcement of other drug prohibitions.

Silencing the Science on Gun Research

Silencing the Science on Gun Research

Coastal wetland management in Florida: environmental concerns and human health

High mosquito populations have always been a part of Florida’s environment. While mosquito-transmitted diseases have played a major role in Florida’s history, saltmarsh mosquitoes have not been implicated in these disease outbreaks. However, the impact of high saltmarsh mosquito numbers on the well-being of residents and visitors cannot be underestimated. Coastal wetland management efforts in Florida, which date back to the 1920s, have included ditching, dredging and filling, and impounding, all having mosquito control and environmental benefits and liabilities. In the early 1980s, efforts to encourage coastal wetlands management for both mosquito control and environmental interests came to the forefront. This resulted in the Florida Legislature creating the Florida Coordinating Council on Mosquito Control and its Subcommittee on Managed Marshes. Through the efforts of these committees, a heavy investment in research, interagency cooperation, and public acquisition of coastal wetlands property, tremendous progress has been made in management of coastal wetlands. This has occurred largely by implementing management and restoration techniques that minimize environmental impacts, allow for mosquito control, and minimize the need for pesticide use. Continued efforts are needed to place into public ownership remaining privately owned coastal wetland property to allow implementation of best management practices on these important habitats.

Censorship of the Patient-Physician Relationship

In June 2011, Florida House Bill 155 (HB155) became law, marking an unprecedented intrusion into the patient-physician relationship. The law states that licensed Florida health care practitioners and health care facilities “should refrain from making a written inquiry or asking questions concerning the ownership of a firearm or ammunition by the patient or by a family member of the patient, or the presence of a firearm in a private home or other domicile of the patient or a family member of the patient.” Additionally, practitioners and facilities are instructed against recording such information (if disclosed) in the medical record. Some exceptions apply. These exceptions are broad, but poorly defined, and violators face disciplinary action from the Board of Medicine under Florida Statute §456.072(2) that may include penalties such as suspension or revocation of a clinician's license or an administrative fine of up to $10 000. Effective primary care requires asking patients about their decisions and behaviors that can place themselves and others at risk of injury or disease, like the decision to own a gun and how to store it. With this law, the Florida legislature set a dangerous precedent. If this law is allowed to stand, what will physicians be forbidden from asking patients next? And at what cost, to their professional identity, the patient-physician relationship, and the health of patients who look to them for specialized knowledge, informed and open counseling, and protection from harm? A copy of the law may be viewed at: http://laws.flrules.org/files/Ch_2011-112.pdf Privacy of Firearm Owners, CS/CS/HB 155. Fla Stat §790.338 (2011) Language: en

Marketing Processed Agricultural Products in Florida: Steps to Take

Fruits, vegetables, and other agricultural commodities that are processed, bottled, or packaged for human consumption must be prepared in accordance with statutes enacted by the Florida Legislature and rules administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). This 6-page fact sheet helps producers understand the rules governing direct marketing in Florida. Written by Bradley J. Burbaugh, Elena Toro, Amarat H. Simonne, Keith R. Schneider, Renée M. Goodrich-Schneider, Allen F. Wysocki, Arthur A. Teixeira, and John T. Fruin and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, March 2011.

Florida Homeowners Insurance: How Big Is the Availability Problem and Is There a Fair Solution?

This article features a panel discussion on hurricane and wind insurance organized by Jeffrey L. Kucera for the American Risk and Insurance Association (ARIA) 2008 Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon. The moderator, Jeffrey L. Kucera, is a Senior Consultant with EMB in North America. He has over 30 years of experience in the property-casualty business, joining EMB after a 24-year career with Allstate and 5 years as a consultant. Jeff's primary practice areas are rate making, class plans, and product development. While knowledgeable about all personal lines, he has particular experience in the homeowners line. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1975 with a major in mathematics and a minor in economics. He became a member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA) in 1980 and a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS) in 1984. Three presenters provide a discussion on Florida Homeowners Insurance. The first presenter is Chris Carlson, a consultant with Pinnacle Actuarial Resources, Inc. He holds a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from the University of Oregon. Before joining Pinnacle Actuarial Resources, he was employed for over 25 years with Nationwide Insurance Companies in Columbus, Ohio. He is currently the President of the Casualty Actuarial Society, a fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society, and a Member of the Academy of Actuaries. The next presenter is Locke Burt, President and Director of Security First Insurance Co. of Ormond Beach, Florida. He has 35 years of experience in the insurance profession, and in 2005, formed Security First Insurance Company. He also owns Burt & Scheid Facultative Corporation, which underwrites property facultative reinsurance on behalf of Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. and Employers Mutual Casualty Insurance Co. He holds both a bachelor of science and a master's of business administration degree from Northwestern University and a juris doctorate degree from Loyola University in Chicago. He is a licensed reinsurance broker and a licensed attorney who is a member of the Illinois and Florida Bar Associations. He was a senator in the Florida legislature from 1991 to 2002 and experienced Hurricane Andrew first-hand. While in the Florida Senate, he served as Chair of the Appropriations Committee and Republican Majority Leader. The final presenter is Jim Massie, and he provides the reinsurance perspective on Florida homeowners insurance. He is the Senior Partner of Massie Law Offices in Tallahassee, Florida, specializing in reinsurance and insurance law, seaport issues, and administrative law. He received his bachelor of arts from Miami University in Ohio and his juris doctorate from Florida State University. Interestingly, when he is not working on insurance issues, he likes to breed and race thoroughbreds. Jeff Kucera: Florida's economic growth and exposure to hurricane losses make it unique from an insurance perspective. The potential for catastrophic losses is in the billions of dollars, and the risk of ruin is a real threat for many insurance companies. More important, it is not just insurers that face severe economic pressures should the megahurricane event occur. Many insureds will also be surprised to learn that their insurance rates could be significantly increased, and these premiums are not just for their homeowners insurance. The three panelists will further describe how the situation has grown and their perspectives of the situation as an insurance company owner and reinsurer. Christopher S. Carlson: Florida's economic picture is a rather unusual situation of supply and demand interplay. Policyholders demand insurance policies, and insurance companies provide capital to write those policies. Affordability and availability are the key dynamics in the Florida homeowners market. That is, Florida homeowners think that insurance should be affordable, whereas insurers are concerned with the availability issue since their capital is at risk. …

Caballo Cracker de Florida

AN219SP, a 4-page illustrated fact sheet by Jorge Rey, is the Spanish language version of AN216: The Florida Cracker Horse. It describes this small breed of saddle horse designated “Florida’s Heritage Horse” by the Florida Legislature in 2008 — breed characteristics, history, current status, and events. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Animal Sciences, June 2009. Revised June 2012.

Florida Cracker Horse

AN216, a 4-page illustrated fact sheet by Jorge Rey, describes this small breed of saddle horse designated “Florida’s Heritage Horse” by the Florida Legislature in 2008 — breed characteristics, history, current status, and events. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Animal Sciences, April 2009.

Changing Trends in Pediatric Antipsychotic Use in Florida's Medicaid Program

This study describes the changing trends in antipsychotic use among youths aged 18 years and younger and in age subgroups (zero to five, six to 12, and 13 to 18 years) in the Florida Medicaid program. The study used Florida Medicaid claims data associated with approximately 1.2 million children and adolescent enrollees per year to describe monthly antipsychotic use from July 2002 to December 2005. A preliminary examination of trends indicated that antipsychotic use might be different for the periods before May 2004 and after April 2004. For this reason, piecewise regression was used to compare the trends for these two periods. This study found significant increases in the use of antipsychotic medications for all three age groups from July 2002 to April 2004. The greatest rate of growth was for the 13- to 18-year age group, and the least rate of growth was for the zero- to five-year age group. From May 2004 to December 2005 antipsychotic utilization trends were flat for youths age 18 years and younger and for the six- to 12-year and the 13- to 18-year age groups. For preschool-age children (the zero- to five-year age group), there was a slight but significant decline in antipsychotic use. Significant changes were also observed in the specific second-generation antipsychotic agents prescribed. Although risperidone remained the most frequently prescribed antipsychotic, its use declined significantly from May 2004 to December 2005. Olanzapine use also declined during this period. On the other hand, aripiprazole use increased significantly throughout the study period, with usage among the 13- to 18-year age group almost equaling that of risperidone by December 2005. The lack of growth in antipsychotic prescribing after the spring of 2004 represents a significant departure from historical trends. Although some in-state policies may have affected these trends, it appears that the timing and extent of the changes occurred shortly after the Food and Drug Administration required warnings on second-generation antipsychotic medications related to weight gain, glucose levels, and diabetes. They appeared immediately after the black box warning for pediatric antidepressant medications, and they appeared shortly after the Joint American Diabetes and American Psychiatric Association Consensus Statement. These factors suggest the existence of a prescribing community that is responsive to evidence and to professional and regulatory actions based on it.

Theresa Schiavo's tragedy and ours, too

In March 2005, the tragic illness and death of Mrs. Theresa Schiavo was a staple of print and broadcast media in the United States. She died at age 41 on March 31, 2005, 15 years after suffering an hypoxic-ischemic brain injury during an at-home cardiac arrest that left her in a vegetative state, and 13 days after the judicially approved removal of her feeding gastrostomy tube.1 Her sad case was noteworthy for ubiquitous media coverage of the family dispute over her treatment, the intense political action that was generated on both sides of the debate, and the unprecedented, unpopular,2 and unconstitutional3 legislative intervention by the Florida legislature and United States Congress. Many print and broadcast media outlets chose to sensationalize the dispute over her treatment, pitting her husband who sought to have her feeding tube removed (which he claimed was in accordance with her previously stated wishes) against her parents who fervently wished her feeding tube to remain. A second area of dispute was whether she was in a vegetative state or …

Can Those Tweens and Teens Read Yet?

AS students transition from the elementary grades into middle school and high school, it is taken for granted that they can read at least close to grade level. Insightful teachers, however, often find that to be far from true. Out of a class of 25, three students might not decode words well, five might have a problem with fluency, and another five might read aloud just fine but look up with deer-in-the-headlights eyes when asked to recap what they've read, because they don't know. Teachers know these things, but most don't know what to do about it. Most teachers who were trained to teach secondary English know how to teach such literature-related concepts as theme and character development, but they don't necessarily know how to teach kids to decode. As a high school English teacher who moved to a middle school to teach reading and language arts to fifth-and sixth-graders, I was that deer in the headlights when it came to helping kids at the lowest level learn to read. Over a year ago, I wrote about the need for states to address adolescent literacy. The National Governors Association and the Alliance for Excellent Education had just begun to push leaders' thinking on this issue. Since that time, however, state policies designed to ensure that teens and tweens read at grade level have not exactly been filling my in-basket. So to help gin up some interest across the legislatures, researchers at the Education Commission of the States added adolescent literacy as one of the measures to include in the ECS High School Policy Center database. Over the past year, researcher Melodye Bush scoured state policy. What follows is a summary of her findings. EFFORTS REFLECTIVE OF STATE LEADERSHIP State office or central coordination. The presence of a designated state office or coordinator can reflect a strong level of commitment and help ensure that a focus on adolescent reading and literacy is not pushed aside in favor of other priorities. The Just Read, Florida! office, for example, was legislatively created within the state department of education in 2006. In New York, the Office of Curriculum, Instruction, and Instructional Technology works with the Office of Early Education and Reading Initiatives to support increased adolescent literacy achievement. The Ohio Reading Improvement Office is housed in the state department of education and facilitates communications within the government to ensure alignment across the state's literacy and teacher training activities. The office also offers professional development, provides an online adolescent literacy journal, and runs a grant competition to fund research-based literacy programs in low-performing secondary schools. In Rhode Island, the State Literacy Advisory Panel provides advice concerning literacy programs and efforts. In Virginia, two state-level staffers coordinate adolescent literacy for the state. In addition to creating Just Read, Florida!, the Florida legislature established the Florida Center for Reading Research, which disseminates information through the Florida Progress Monitoring and Reporting Network. Clear standards, expectations. Clear, rigorous standards can help staff members understand what students in grades 4-12 should know and be able to do. Challenging standards improve efficiency, generate challenging and cohesive curriculum, and become the basis for holding students, teachers, and schools accountable. Standards are the launching pad for redesigning curriculum, assessment, accountability, teacher education, professional development, and resource allocation. Yet only a dozen states have standards explicitly reflecting literacy expectations. Building momentum and monitoring progress. State efforts to raise K-3 reading skills can founder in later grades if effective teaching of reading is neglected in the middle and secondary grades. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly half of the undergraduates enrolled in remedial classes in 2000 took remedial writing, and 35% took remedial reading. …

The Political Fallout of Taking a Stand: The President, Congress, and the Schiavo Case

Federal government involvement in the case of terminally ill Terri Schiavo provides an interesting opportunity to explore the potential impact of specific institutional actions on public approval of those institutions. We analyze national survey data from the period of federal intervention and a poll conducted several months later. Our analyses, which account for time and exposure to political news, suggest that presidential and congressional actions in the case were associated with a decline in approval for the president and congressional leaders. Thus, the president and Congress can pay a political price when they take high-profile actions a significant majority of the public opposes. ********** In American politics, many policy actions by Congress and the president do not receive a high degree of public attention. As such, assessment of public approval ratings of these institutions often takes the form of time-series analyses which explore the influence of broad trends, such as economic conditions (Kimball 2005; Rudolph 2002), or dramatic events, such as the start of a military conflict (Clarke et al. 2004; Rosenblatt 1998). But each year, even some policy decisions receive widespread attention. In one recent example, the federal government attempted to intervene in a dispute between members of a Florida family--the case of maintaining life support for Terri Schiavo. Such a high-profile case allows an opportunity for researchers to investigate the impact of specific policy actions on public approval ratings of political institutions using individual-level data. The death of Terri Schiavo on March 31, 2005, ended nearly seven years of bitter private and public battles over her care. Throughout most of that time, the battle had been waged in the Florida legislature and judicial system, but during the period from January 24, 2005, until Schiavo's death, all three branches of the federal government became involved in the debate over prolonging her life. Throughout March 2005, media coverage of the case was intense, and government officials played a highly visible role in the public drama (Cerminara 2006; Edwards 2007, 244; Kohut 2005). Nevertheless, the American public was opposed to federal government intervention in the Schiavo case, and broader trends in public opinion suggest that Americans prefer that the government refrain from intervening in end-of-life issues and leave the decision to families in consultation with doctors (Benson 1999; Pew Research Center for the People and the Press 2005, 2006). In fact, even a majority of those who self-described themselves as conservatives (68 percent) and white evangelicals (69 percent) disapproved of federal government intervention in the Schiavo case months after the salience of the issue had declined dramatically (Jacobson 2007, 220-21; Pew 2005). Given this context, our research explores the impact of federal government intervention on public opinion in a case where the public clearly disapproved of intervention. Our goal is to determine whether approval of congressional leaders and the president declined as a result of their specific actions in the case. We begin with an overview of theoretical perspectives that seek to explain institutional approval ratings. We then shift our attention to a detailed examination of the Schiavo case. Our discussion makes it clear that the Schiavo case was highly salient to the public and that public opinion strongly favored patient/family resolution of end-of-life issues. Nevertheless, in something of a media circus, Congress and the president intervened in the case. Based on the theoretical overview and details of the Schiavo case, we move to examining individual-level approval ratings of congressional leaders and the president, employing national survey data collected during the key days in which Congress and the president were intervening in the case. Based on the way we are able to structure the survey data, our analysis suggests that federal government intervention in the case contributed to a decline in public approval of the president and congressional Republican leaders and, to a lesser extent, approval of congressional Democratic leaders. …