Jeb's playing offense now. Now enjoy this picture in the park in Polk County.
Posted on 10/01/2002 4:32:45 AM PDT by floriduh voter
MESSAGE FROM GOVERNOR BUSH
TAMPA: Two events this week highlighted the importance of reading, especially early childhood reading. On Tuesday, I joined First Lady Laura Bush and First Lady Columba Bush at the "Ready to Read, Ready to Learn" early childhood cognitive development summit in Tampa. Evidence suggests that children who fall behind in an early grade tend to fall further behind over time. For this reason, early reading programs are a necessary and critical component to ensuring that all children are reading on grade level. With our Just Read, Florida! initiative, we set a statewide goal of having every child in Florida reading at or above grade level by 2012.
Several components of Just Read, Florida! focus specifically on early reading including parental involvement and partnerships with readiness coalitions.
CORPORATE DONATION: Another key component of the early reading initiative is the "I'm A Reader" kit, which we also launched on Tuesday. These kits, which contain tips and information on reading for parents of Florida newborns, are being distributed through hospitals statewide in three different languages. The "I'm A Reader" kit, made possible in part by a generous donation from Carnival Cruise Lines, will be delivered to nearly all of the 200,000 estimated newborns in Florida in the coming year.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE IS DOWN AMONG CHILDREN: On Friday, we released the results of the Youth Substance Abuse Survey, which are most encouraging. Substance abuse among Florida's children is down across the board, bucking the national trend. We are seeing declines in youth use of drugs, tobacco and - for the first time - alcohol as well. I am especially grateful for my wife's leadership in getting the message out to our state's young people.
SUPREME COURT JUTICE INVESTITURE Later I attended the investiture of Florida's newest Supreme Court Justice, Raoul Cantero, whom I appointed earlier this year. Justice Cantero brings with him a wealth of experience earned as one of the state's finest appellate advocates over the past fourteen years. The fact that Justice Cantero is the first Hispanic justice to serve on the court is secondary to his academic and professional qualifications, yet still noteworthy because it reminds Florida youth of all races that anything is possible in our state and our country.
UNCF LUNCHEON: I also had the pleasure of attending the United Negro College Fund's (UNCF) luncheon at Florida A&M University on Friday. I have been involved with the UNCF in different capacities since 1986, because we share a common interest in promoting college education for minority students. The mission of the UNCF is to enhance the quality of education by providing financial assistance to deserving students, raising operating funds for member colleges and universities, and increasing access to technology for students and faculty at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Since its inception in 1944, the UNCF has grown to become the nation's oldest and most successful African-American education assistance organization.
DISABILITIES CONFERENCE: Lastly on Friday, I attended the World Congress on Disabilities in Orlando. I was proud that they chose Florida as the site of their conference, as our state has done much to serve people with disabilities. We have reduced fees for disabled parking permits, encouraged community-based care as an alternative to institutionalization wherever possible and have supported in particular Florida's disabled veterans.
Information on all state services and programs is available through the ADA Clearinghouse at 1-877-ADA-4YOU. I also highlighted what Vocational Rehabilitation programs through the Department of Education have done to help people with disabilities participate in our diverse economy to the greatest extent possible.
Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely, Jeb Bush
LT. GOVERNOR BROGAN SPREADS EDUCATION AWARENESS
Lt. Governor Frank Brogan, joined by Dr. Susan Neuman, Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) for Elementary and Secondary Education, continued to promote reading by visiting Rolling Hills Elementary School as part of the First Book National Book Bank and US DOE's fall tour this week. Lt. Governor Brogan and Dr. Neuman spoke to the students about the importance of reading and passed out books to 1st grade students at Rolling Hills. First Book, a national non-profit organization, provides the children of low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first book.
By working with literacy programs, the organization is able to provide access to books to all children. Last year, First Book provided over seven million books to hundreds of thousands of under privileged children. "As we begin the first school year under the President's bi-partisan education reforms it is important that we remain focused on the challenges ahead," said Assistant Secretary Susan B. Neuman. "With the help of leaders like Governor Bush and Lt. Governor Brogan, President Bush and Secretary Paige are working across the country to ensure that every child in America receives the quality education they so richly deserve.
Frank Brogan has been a valued leader in the fight to reform Florida's education system and I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to tour the Sunshine State with him today." The Governor's Just Read, Florida! initiative creates a comprehensive and targeted reading strategy that will help all students become successful readers. Governor Bush has allotted nearly $13 million for Just Read, Florida! grants to be used for 32 school districts to improve reading techniques.
Additionally, Florida receives over $45 million in federal Reading First funds that will total over $300 million in six years. For more information about Governor Bush's Just Read, Florida Initiative, please visit www.myflorida.com.
NEWSPAPER CLIPS OF INTEREST 1. Florida Ranks Third in Favorable Business Climate (Jacksonville Business Journal 9/27) 2. Faith-Based Organizations Get $1.4 Million for Delinquency Prevention (Orlando Business Journal 9/27) 3. Governor Awards 2002 Sister Cities Grants (Orlando Business Journal 9/27) 4. State's Mentor Project to Grow (Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel 10/4)
Governor's Schedule For Next Week Monday - Jacksonville Tuesday - Tallahassee-Orlando Wednesday - Governor's Office - Tallahassee Thursday - Hollywood-Orlando
Thanks, Floriduh Voter
Jeb's playing offense now. Now enjoy this picture in the park in Polk County.
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