CALL TO ACTION

Howard Drive Elementary is slated to be taken over by a School of Hope operator despite its 65 years of excellence as an established community gem, and its consistent A-rating. We call on all parents, guardians, and community members of Howard Drive Elementary School and the surrounding area to sign this petition and make our voices heard. Decisions about our children’s education must include the families most impacted. Together, we stand to protect our school, our community, and our right to local voice and accountability.

PETITION STATEMENT

Dear Congressional Leaders,

We, the undersigned parents/guardians of students at Howard Drive Elementary School along with community members, formally express our strong opposition to the proposed co-location within our public school by a School of Hope Operator. Howard Drive Elementary is more than a public school—it is a close-knit community. Our families, teachers, and staff work together to support student success, academically and emotionally.

HDE Parents and Community members urge you to adjust the School of Hope statute to:

Exclude co-location from schools that have ESE populations above 20%. Howard Drive has nearly 25% ESE students. We also have a special ESE inclusion program and are expanding our Pre-K program in a neighborhood where there are waitlists for Pre-K.

Exclude co-location from schools where buildings are older than 40 years since this would likely cause the school to incur significant repair or rebuilding costs. As a community gem, Howard Drive will be celebrating its 65th anniversary next year. 

Exclude co-location from schools with A or B ratings. Howard Drive is currently an A school and has been an A school for 3 of the last 4 years.

We respectfully request that the School of Hope statute be adjusted so that Howard Drive is removed from the proposed list of co-location sites.

By signing below, we affirm our opposition to Section 1002.333, Florida Statutes and the proposed School of Hope takeover of Howard Drive Elementary School.