HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                         Bill No. HB 367, 2nd Eng.

    Amendment No.    (for drafter's use only)

                            CHAMBER ACTION
              Senate                               House
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 5                                           ORIGINAL STAMP BELOW

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10                                                                

11  Representative(s) Rayson and Andrews offered the following:

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13         Amendment 

14  Remove from the bill:  Everything after the enacting clause

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16  and insert in lieu thereof:

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18         Section 1.  (1)  This section may be cited as the

19  "Florida Maximum Class Size Goals Act."

20         (2)  The Legislature finds that class size, especially

21  in the primary grades, is a major factor in the ability of

22  students to learn and classroom teachers to teach, and that

23  small student-to-teacher ratios are particularly crucial in

24  low-performing schools.   It is, therefore, the intent of the

25  Legislature to establish class size standards which will

26  promote educational success.

27         (3)  Beginning with school year 1998-1999, it shall be

28  the goal of the Legislature and each school district that each

29  elementary school in the school district beginning with

30  kindergarten through grade three class sizes not exceed 24

31  students, with a ratio of one full-time equivalent teacher per

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    File original & 9 copies    03/24/98
    hei0002                     03:29 pm         00367-0090-892899




                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                         Bill No. HB 367, 2nd Eng.

    Amendment No.    (for drafter's use only)





 1  24 students; except that only in the case of critically

 2  low-performing schools as identified by the Commissioner of

 3  Education, the goal in kindergarten through grade three shall

 4  be a ratio of one full-time equivalent teacher per 15

 5  students.  For purposes of any funding in the General

 6  Appropriations Act to meet these goals, the district shall

 7  give priority to identified critically low-performing schools

 8  in the district.  Second priority for the use of any funds

 9  designated for meeting these goals shall be for kindergarten

10  through grade one.  Third priority for the use of any funds

11  designated for meeting these goals shall be for grades two and

12  three.

13         (4)  Each school district shall implement the goals set

14  forth in this section to the extent funds are provided through

15  the General Appropriations Act.

16         (5)  Beginning January 1, 1999, and each year

17  thereafter, the Department of Education shall report to the

18  President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of

19  Representatives school district expenditures and class size

20  reductions as a result of the provisions of this act.

21         (6)  The Department of Education shall provide for a

22  longitudinal study of the benefits to students and the impact

23  on student achievement of small class size based on reductions

24  in class size for the 1998-1999 school year, as a result of an

25  appropriation for such purpose, and for the 1999-2000,

26  2000-2001, and 2001-2002 school years, as a result of

27  implementation of this act.  The results of the study shall be

28  reported to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the

29  House of Representative by December 1, 2002.

30         Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 1998.

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    File original & 9 copies    03/24/98
    hei0002                     03:29 pm         00367-0090-892899