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.