Team Engagement

Schools are encouraged to strengthen the movement by forming teams of students, staff, and families. When registering, participants can identify their school as their “team,” bringing visibility to your institution’s commitment to safety and awareness. For more information: walkforfreedomcentralflorida.org/register

OCASA Membership Barbecue

After the walk, we invite OCASA members and their families to a barbecue at Edgewater High School—a time for fellowship and reflection on the impact we’ve created together. To register for family dinner: https://forms.gle/Baxnss3cEpTz8kSa7

OCASA Joins the Campaign to End Human Trafficking and Online Child Exploitation

The Orange County Association of School Administrators (OCASA) is honored to join the A21 Global Freedom Summit and Walk for FREEDOM Central Florida, a campaign uniting schools, families, civic groups, faith communities, parent organizations, businesses, and neighborhood associations to raise awareness and combat human trafficking and online child exploitation. Central Florida ranks among the highest regions in the U.S. for reported cases, making our engagement all the more critical.

Explore Resources

Visit walkforfreedomcentralflorida.org today for free, shareable resources—including the “Safe Relationships” guide and digital safety materials—for your school community.

Event Schedule – Saturday, November 1, 2025 at Edgewater High School

• 3:00 PM – Registration Opens + Community Resource Fair
• 4:00 PM – Global Freedom Summit Program (Performing Arts Center)
• 4:45 PM – Line Up for the Walk
• 5:00 PM – Silent Walk Begins (30-minute return route)
• 6:00 PM – Closing & Networking in school grounds

Participants are encouraged to wear all black and comfortable walking shoes.

Action & Advocacy

This is a free, inclusive event, but it stands behind a compelling cause. OCASA is one of many community stakeholders rallying to raise $50,000 through sponsorships and donations to support:

• A21’s global Reach, Rescue, and Restore mission, and
• Our local champions: One More Child, FLITE Center, and The Paving the Way Foundation.

Team Engagement

Schools are encouraged to strengthen the movement by forming teams of students, staff, and families. When registering, participants can identify their school as their “team,” bringing visibility to your institution’s commitment to safety and awareness. For more information: walkforfreedomcentralflorida.org/register

OCASA Membership Barbecue

After the walk, we invite OCASA members and their families to a barbecue at Edgewater High School—a time for fellowship and reflection on the impact we’ve created together. To register for family dinner: https://forms.gle/Baxnss3cEpTz8kSa7

A Call to Action for OCASA Members and Friends

At OCASA, we’re committed to tirelessly working with district leaders to support our students—especially our most vulnerable. We recently returned from a trip to Washington, D.C., where we collaborated with the Council of Great City Schools, meeting with lawmakers and their staff to advocate for our kids. Now, we’d like to invite your attention to an important issue: full funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Since 1975, IDEA has promised a free, appropriate public education for every child with a disability, ages 3 to 22—including the 24,000 students we’ve confirmed are in Orange County Public Schools today. The federal government pledged 40% of the extra costs—for IEPs, specialists, and more—but 50 years later, in 2025, we’re still receiving just 10–15%. Congress’s recent continuing resolution, signed on March 15, 2025, keeps education funding at 2024 levels—around 13%—through September 2025, and they’re already working on the 2026–2027 budget. While this holds steady for now, the Trump administration has the flexibility to shift funds within education, leaving OCPS and Florida to cover 85–90% of the costs for our 24,000 students with disabilities.

This isn’t about debating the Department of Education’s role. Programs like Title I for low-income schools and Title II for teacher training hold steady for many. But if budget adjustments come, OCASA believes prioritizing IDEA is essential. It supports our students with disabilities and eases the strain on OCPS’s general budget. With autism rising from 1 in 2,500 in 1975 to 1 in 36 by 2020, our needs far exceed the 13% we’re getting—funding that could change if redirected.

As the eighth largest district in the country, OCPS carries weight, and so do you—OCASA members and friends. We’re not here to pressure anyone. Instead, we want to educate our legislators about these needs and stand with them as they champion education. Your support can help us share this story with local leaders, state lawmakers, and Congress, building a partnership to secure the 40% funding our kids deserve—for all 24,000 with disabilities and the full 206,000 in OCPS.

If you’d like to join us in this effort, please don’t hesitate to reach out at dr.diaz@ocasa.net. We’d love to have you—and everyone you represent—by our side.