About Us

Small School District Council Consortium of Florida

39 Members Strong

Established in 1983, the Small School District Council Consortium is a statewide consortium of local elected school officials. The SSDCC was formed for the purpose of providing information and addressing statewide issues for small school districts. The SSDCC’s primary focus is to provide timely information, promote small district issues, and work with state elected officials and state agency leadership.

The SSDCC is a membership organization that represents school districts with 24,000 students or less. Membership also includes regional educational consortia established in the statutes.
Each participating school district adopts a resolution and is involved in activities in relation to an adopted issue-oriented priority list approved by the membership.
The SSDCC elects officers and each member district is represented on the Board of Directors through the school superintendent and one school board member designated by the School Board of each member county.
Rural communities are some of the most culturally rich areas of the State of Florida, however, many struggle with elements critical to quality of life. Declining populations; little or no Internet Services in vast areas; Slow or no job growth; Limited fiscal capacity based on property values and limited points of sales! Insufficient wastewater infrastructure! Affordable housing, economic and community development are issues of community concern.

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Traditional challenges for small school districts are

  • The low tax base impacts funds available for instruction and capital outlay needs;
  • Access to Technology and High-Speed Internet are limited or non-existent in rural areas;
  • Districts have fewer district administrators and staff to implement state and federal initiatives; 
  • Transportation costs are increased in sparsely populated areas;
  • Competition for qualified employees – including – bus drivers, substitutes, and other staff is difficult. 
  • Grants are harder to obtain in smaller districts where limited resources hinder success; and,
  • Economy of scale issues present challenges in both staffing and financial impacts.

The Small School District Council Consortium membership work with the Florida Legislature and relevant state agency leadership in taking a comprehensive look at the short-term and long-term needs

With support from members of the SSDCC, the Florida Legislature has provided several programs to assist small and rural districts

  • Sparsity funding is provided to offset to economy of scale issues; 
  • Special Facility Construction funding is provided to address construction projects where districts demonstrate critical need and insufficient revenues; 
  • Regional Consortium Service Organization funding has assisted with important training and program assistance to small, rural districts;
  • Base level funding within grant programs, including Technology, Mental Health, Reading,  and Safe Schools programs.
  • Compression and Equalization of millage provisions has provided additional funding to offset fiscal limitations of the local tax base.