Bill Text: FL S1466 | 2011 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Class Size Requirements
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-05-07 - Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration [S1466 Detail]
Download: Florida-2011-S1466-Engrossed.html
CS for SB 1466 First Engrossed (ntc)
20111466e1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to class size requirements; amending
3 s. 1003.01, F.S.; redefining the terms “core-curricula
4 courses” and “extracurricular courses”; amending s.
5 1003.03, F.S.; deleting a reference to the State
6 Constitution regarding class size maximums; requiring
7 that class size maximums be satisfied on or before the
8 October student membership survey each year; requiring
9 that the class size maximums be maintained after the
10 October student membership survey unless certain
11 conditions occur; providing that a student who enrolls
12 in a school after the October student membership
13 survey may be assigned to classes that temporarily
14 exceed class size maximums if the school board
15 determines that not assigning the student would be
16 impractical, educationally unsound, or disruptive to
17 student learning; providing for a specified number of
18 students to be assigned above the maximum if the
19 district school board makes this determination;
20 requiring that the district school board develop a
21 plan providing that the school will be in full
22 compliance with the maximum class size requirements by
23 the next October student membership survey; requiring
24 that the Department of Education identify from the
25 Course Code Directory the core-curricula courses for
26 the purpose of satisfying the maximum class size
27 requirement; authorizing the department to adopt
28 rules; amending s. 1011.685, F.S.; revising provisions
29 relating to class size reduction operational
30 categorical funds; authorizing a school district that
31 meets the maximum class size requirement to use the
32 funds for any lawful operating expenditure; providing
33 an effective date.
34
35 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
36
37 Section 1. Subsections (14) and (15) of section 1003.01,
38 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
39 1003.01 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term:
40 (14) “Core-curricula courses” means:
41 (a) Courses in language arts/reading, mathematics, social
42 studies, and science in prekindergarten through grade 3,
43 excluding any extracurricular courses pursuant to subsection
44 (15);
45 (b) Courses in grades 4 through 8 in subjects that are
46 measured by state assessment at any grade level and courses
47 required for middle school promotion, excluding any
48 extracurricular courses pursuant to subsection (15);
49 (c) Courses in grades 9 through 12 in subjects that are
50 measured by state assessment at any grade level and courses that
51 are specifically identified by name in statute as required for
52 high school graduation and that are not measured by state
53 assessment, excluding any extracurricular courses pursuant to
54 subsection (15);
55 (d) Exceptional student education courses; and
56 (e) English for Speakers of Other Languages courses.
57 courses defined by the Department of Education as mathematics,
58 language arts/reading, science, social studies, foreign
59 language, English for Speakers of Other Languages, exceptional
60 student education, and courses taught in traditional self
61 contained elementary school classrooms.
62
63 The term is limited in meaning and used for the sole purpose of
64 designating classes that are subject to the maximum class size
65 requirements established in s. 1, Art. IX of the State
66 Constitution. This term does not include courses offered under
67 ss. 1002.37, 1002.415, and 1002.45.
68 (15) “Extracurricular courses” means all courses that are
69 not defined as “core-curricula courses,” which may include, but
70 are not limited to, physical education, fine arts, performing
71 fine arts, and career education, and courses that may result in
72 college credit. The term is limited in meaning and used for the
73 sole purpose of designating classes that are not subject to the
74 maximum class size requirements established in s. 1, Art. IX of
75 the State Constitution.
76 Section 2. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1003.03,
77 Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (6) is added to
78 that section, to read:
79 1003.03 Maximum class size.—
80 (1) CONSTITUTIONAL CLASS SIZE MAXIMUMS.—Each year, on or
81 before the October student membership survey, the following
82 class size maximums shall be satisfied Pursuant to s. 1, Art. IX
83 of the State Constitution, beginning in the 2010-2011 school
84 year:
85 (a) The maximum number of students assigned to each teacher
86 who is teaching core-curricula courses in public school
87 classrooms for prekindergarten through grade 3 may not exceed 18
88 students.
89 (b) The maximum number of students assigned to each teacher
90 who is teaching core-curricula courses in public school
91 classrooms for grades 4 through 8 may not exceed 22 students.
92 The maximum number of students assigned to a core-curricula high
93 school course in which a student in grades 4 through 8 is
94 enrolled shall be governed by the requirements in paragraph (c).
95 (c) The maximum number of students assigned to each teacher
96 who is teaching core-curricula courses in public school
97 classrooms for grades 9 through 12 may not exceed 25 students.
98
99 These maximums shall be maintained after the October student
100 membership survey, except as provided in paragraph (2)(b) or due
101 to an extreme emergency beyond the control of the district
102 school board.
103 (2) IMPLEMENTATION.—
104 (a) The Department of Education shall annually calculate
105 class size measures described in subsection (1) based upon the
106 October student membership survey.
107 (b) A student who enrolls in a school after the October
108 student membership survey may be assigned to an existing class
109 that temporarily exceeds the maximum number of students in
110 subsection (1) if the district school board determines it to be
111 impractical, educationally unsound, or disruptive to student
112 learning to not assign the student to the class. If the district
113 school board makes this determination:
114 1. Up to three students may be assigned to a teacher in
115 kindergarten through grade 3 above the maximum as provided in
116 paragraph (1)(a);
117 2. Up to five students may be assigned to a teacher in
118 grades 4 through 12 above the maximum as provided in paragraphs
119 (1)(b) and (1)(c), respectively; and
120 3. The district school board shall develop a plan that
121 provides that the school will be in full compliance with the
122 maximum class size in subsection (1) by the next October student
123 membership survey.
124 (b) Prior to the adoption of the district school budget for
125 2010-2011, each district school board shall hold public hearings
126 and provide information to parents on the district’s website,
127 and through any other means by which the district provides
128 information to parents and the public, on the district’s
129 strategies to meet the requirements in subsection (1).
130 (6) COURSES FOR COMPLIANCE.—Consistent with the provisions
131 in ss. 1003.01(14) and 1003.428, the Department of Education
132 shall identify from the Course Code Directory the core-curricula
133 courses for the purpose of satisfying the maximum class size
134 requirement in this section. The department may adopt rules to
135 implement this subsection, if necessary.
136 Section 3. Subsection (2) of section 1011.685, Florida
137 Statutes, is amended to read:
138 1011.685 Class size reduction; operating categorical fund.—
139 (2) Class size reduction operating categorical funds shall
140 be used by school districts to reduce class size as required in
141 s. 1003.03. A school district that meets the maximum class size
142 requirement may use the funds, or the funds may be used for any
143 lawful operating expenditure; however, priority shall be given
144 to increasing salaries of classroom teachers.
145 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.
