Bill Text: FL S1466 | 2011 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
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Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-05-07 - Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration [S1466 Detail]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-Comm_Sub.html
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Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-05-07 - Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration [S1466 Detail]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-Comm_Sub.html
Florida Senate - 2011 CS for SB 1466
By the Committee on Budget; and Senator Simmons
576-04633-11 20111466c1
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 (b) Courses in grades 4 through 8 in subjects that are
44 measured by state assessment at any grade level and courses
45 required for middle school promotion;
46 (c) Courses in grades 9 through 12 in subjects that are
47 measured by state assessment at any grade level and courses that
48 are specifically identified by name in statute as required for
49 high school graduation and that are not measured by state
50 assessment, excluding any extracurricular courses pursuant to
51 subsection (15);
52 (d) Exceptional student education courses; and
53 (e) English for Speakers of Other Languages courses.
54 courses defined by the Department of Education as mathematics,
55 language arts/reading, science, social studies, foreign
56 language, English for Speakers of Other Languages, exceptional
57 student education, and courses taught in traditional self
58 contained elementary school classrooms.
59
60 The term is limited in meaning and used for the sole purpose of
61 designating classes that are subject to the maximum class size
62 requirements established in s. 1, Art. IX of the State
63 Constitution. This term does not include courses offered under
64 ss. 1002.37, 1002.415, and 1002.45.
65 (15) “Extracurricular courses” means all courses that are
66 not defined as “core-curricula courses,” which may include, but
67 are not limited to, physical education, fine arts, performing
68 fine arts, and career education, and courses that may result in
69 college credit. The term is limited in meaning and used for the
70 sole purpose of designating classes that are not subject to the
71 maximum class size requirements established in s. 1, Art. IX of
72 the State Constitution.
73 Section 2. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1003.03,
74 Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (6) is added to
75 that section, to read:
76 1003.03 Maximum class size.—
77 (1) CONSTITUTIONAL CLASS SIZE MAXIMUMS.—Each year, on or
78 before the October student membership survey, the following
79 class size maximums shall be satisfied Pursuant to s. 1, Art. IX
80 of the State Constitution, beginning in the 2010-2011 school
81 year:
82 (a) The maximum number of students assigned to each teacher
83 who is teaching core-curricula courses in public school
84 classrooms for prekindergarten through grade 3 may not exceed 18
85 students.
86 (b) The maximum number of students assigned to each teacher
87 who is teaching core-curricula courses in public school
88 classrooms for grades 4 through 8 may not exceed 22 students.
89 The maximum number of students assigned to a core-curricula high
90 school course in which a student in grades 4 through 8 is
91 enrolled shall be governed by the requirements in paragraph (c).
92 (c) The maximum number of students assigned to each teacher
93 who is teaching core-curricula courses in public school
94 classrooms for grades 9 through 12 may not exceed 25 students.
95
96 These maximums shall be maintained after the October student
97 membership survey, except as provided in paragraph (2)(b) or due
98 to an extreme emergency beyond the control of the district
99 school board.
100 (2) IMPLEMENTATION.—
101 (a) The Department of Education shall annually calculate
102 class size measures described in subsection (1) based upon the
103 October student membership survey.
104 (b) A student who enrolls in a school after the October
105 student membership survey may be assigned to an existing class
106 that temporarily exceeds the maximum number of students in
107 subsection (1) if the district school board determines it to be
108 impractical, educationally unsound, or disruptive to student
109 learning to not assign the student to the class. If the district
110 school board makes this determination:
111 1. Up to three students may be assigned to a teacher in
112 kindergarten through grade 3 above the maximum as provided in
113 paragraph (1)(a);
114 2. Up to five students may be assigned to a teacher in
115 grades 4 through 12 above the maximum as provided in paragraphs
116 (1)(b) and (1)(c), respectively; and
117 3. The district school board shall develop a plan that
118 provides that the school will be in full compliance with the
119 maximum class size in subsection (1) by the next October student
120 membership survey.
121 (b) Prior to the adoption of the district school budget for
122 2010-2011, each district school board shall hold public hearings
123 and provide information to parents on the district’s website,
124 and through any other means by which the district provides
125 information to parents and the public, on the district’s
126 strategies to meet the requirements in subsection (1).
127 (6) COURSES FOR COMPLIANCE.—Consistent with the provisions
128 in ss. 1003.01(14) and 1003.428, the Department of Education
129 shall identify from the Course Code Directory the core-curricula
130 courses for the purpose of satisfying the maximum class size
131 requirement in this section. The department may adopt rules to
132 implement this subsection, if necessary.
133 Section 3. Subsection (2) of section 1011.685, Florida
134 Statutes, is amended to read:
135 1011.685 Class size reduction; operating categorical fund.—
136 (2) Class size reduction operating categorical funds shall
137 be used by school districts to reduce class size as required in
138 s. 1003.03. A school district that meets the maximum class size
139 requirement may use the funds, or the funds may be used for any
140 lawful operating expenditure; however, priority shall be given
141 to increasing salaries of classroom teachers.
142 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.
