Florida Senate - 2011                                    SB 1466
       
       
       
       By Senator Simmons
       
       
       
       
       22-00776A-11                                          20111466__
    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; amending
   24         s. 1011.685, F.S.; revising provisions relating to
   25         class size reduction operational categorical funds;
   26         authorizing a school district that meets the maximum
   27         class size requirement to use the funds for any lawful
   28         operating expenditure; providing an effective date.
   29  
   30  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   31  
   32         Section 1. Subsections (14) and (15) of section 1003.01,
   33  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
   34         1003.01 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term:
   35         (14) “Core-curricula courses” means:
   36         (a) Language arts/reading, mathematics, and science courses
   37  in prekindergarten through grade 3;
   38         (b) Courses in grades 4 through 8 in subjects that are
   39  measured by state assessment at any grade level;
   40         (c) Courses in grades 9 through 12 in subjects that are
   41  measured by state assessment at any grade level;
   42         (d) Courses that are specifically identified by name in
   43  statute as required for high school graduation and that are not
   44  measured by state assessment, excluding any extracurricular
   45  courses;
   46         (e) Exceptional student education courses; and
   47         (f) English for Speakers of Other Languages courses.
   48  courses defined by the Department of Education as mathematics,
   49  language arts/reading, science, social studies, foreign
   50  language, English for Speakers of Other Languages, exceptional
   51  student education, and courses taught in traditional self
   52  contained elementary school classrooms.
   53  
   54  The maximum number of students assigned to a core-curricula high
   55  school course in which a student in grades 4 through 8 is
   56  enrolled shall be governed by the requirements in s.
   57  1003.03(1)(c). The term is limited in meaning and used for the
   58  sole purpose of designating classes that are subject to the
   59  maximum class size requirements established in s. 1, Art. IX of
   60  the State Constitution. This term does not include courses
   61  offered under ss. 1002.37, 1002.415, and 1002.45.
   62         (15) “Extracurricular courses” means all courses that are
   63  not defined as “core-curricula courses,” which may include, but
   64  are not limited to, physical education, fine arts, performing
   65  fine arts, and career education, and courses that may result in
   66  college credit. The term is limited in meaning and used for the
   67  sole purpose of designating classes that are not subject to the
   68  maximum class size requirements established in s. 1, Art. IX of
   69  the State Constitution.
   70         Section 2. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1003.03,
   71  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
   72         1003.03 Maximum class size.—
   73         (1) CONSTITUTIONAL CLASS SIZE MAXIMUMS.—Each year, on or
   74  before the October student membership survey, the following
   75  class size maximums shall be satisfied Pursuant to s. 1, Art. IX
   76  of the State Constitution, beginning in the 2010-2011 school
   77  year:
   78         (a) The maximum number of students assigned to each teacher
   79  who is teaching core-curricula courses in public school
   80  classrooms for prekindergarten through grade 3 may not exceed 18
   81  students.
   82         (b) The maximum number of students assigned to each teacher
   83  who is teaching core-curricula courses in public school
   84  classrooms for grades 4 through 8 may not exceed 22 students.
   85         (c) The maximum number of students assigned to each teacher
   86  who is teaching core-curricula courses in public school
   87  classrooms for grades 9 through 12 may not exceed 25 students.
   88  
   89  These maximums shall be maintained after the October student
   90  membership survey, except as provided in paragraph (2)(b) or due
   91  to an extreme emergency beyond the control of the district
   92  school board.
   93         (2) IMPLEMENTATION.—
   94         (a) The Department of Education shall annually calculate
   95  class size measures described in subsection (1) based upon the
   96  October student membership survey.
   97         (b) A student who enrolls in a school after the October
   98  student membership survey may be assigned to an existing class
   99  that temporarily exceeds the maximum number of students in
  100  subsection (1) if the district school board determines it to be
  101  impractical, educationally unsound, or disruptive to student
  102  learning to not assign the student to the class. If the district
  103  school board makes this determination:
  104         1. Up to three students may be assigned to a teacher in
  105  kindergarten through grade 3 above the maximum as provided in
  106  paragraph (1)(a);
  107         2. Up to five students may be assigned to a teacher in
  108  grades 4 through 12 above the maximum as provided in paragraphs
  109  (1)(b) and (1)(c), respectively; and
  110         3. The district school board shall develop a plan that
  111  provides that the school will be in full compliance with the
  112  maximum class size in subsection (1) by the next October student
  113  membership survey.
  114         (b) Prior to the adoption of the district school budget for
  115  2010-2011, each district school board shall hold public hearings
  116  and provide information to parents on the district’s website,
  117  and through any other means by which the district provides
  118  information to parents and the public, on the district’s
  119  strategies to meet the requirements in subsection (1).
  120         Section 3. Subsection (2) of section 1011.685, Florida
  121  Statutes, is amended to read:
  122         1011.685 Class size reduction; operating categorical fund.—
  123         (2) Class size reduction operating categorical funds shall
  124  be used by school districts to reduce class size as required in
  125  s. 1003.03. A school district that meets the maximum class size
  126  requirement may use the funds, or the funds may be used for any
  127  lawful operating expenditure; however, priority shall be given
  128  to increasing salaries of classroom teachers.
  129         Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.