CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.House Bill 0367
Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 367
By Representative Rayson
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to education; creating the
3 "Florida Maximum Class Size Goals Act";
4 providing intent; providing goals relating to
5 class size in certain grade levels; providing
6 for funding; providing for review of statutory
7 mandates; requiring annual reports and a study
8 based on class size reductions; providing an
9 effective date.
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11 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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13 Section 1. (1) This section may be cited as the
14 "Florida Maximum Class Size Goals Act."
15 (2) The Legislature finds that class size, especially
16 in the primary grades, is a major factor in the ability of
17 students to learn and classroom teachers to teach. It is,
18 therefore, the intent of the Legislature to establish class
19 size standards which will promote educational success.
20 (3) It shall be the goal of each school district that
21 each elementary school in the school district beginning with
22 kindergarten in the 1997-1998 school year, for kindergarten
23 and grade level one in the 1998-1999 school year, for
24 kindergarten and grade levels one and two in the 1999-2000
25 school year, and for kindergarten and grade levels one, two,
26 and three in the 2000-2001 school year, class sizes not exceed
27 20 students, with a ratio of one full-time equivalent teacher
28 per 20 students. For the purposes of this act, a class in
29 grades kindergarten, 1, 2, and 3 may not exceed 29 students.
30 Classes that exceed 20 students must have a full-time
31 equivalent teacher aide.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 367
288-171-97
1 (4) Each school district shall implement the goals set
2 forth in this section to the extent funds are provided through
3 the General Appropriations Act. The funds may not be used for
4 any purpose other than implementing this act.
5 (5) Beginning January 1, 1998, and each year
6 thereafter, the Department of Education shall report to the
7 President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
8 Representatives school district expenditures and class size
9 reductions as a result of the provisions of this act.
10 (6) The Department of Education shall provide for a
11 longitudinal study of the benefits to students and the impact
12 on student achievement of small class size based on reductions
13 in class size for the 1997-1998 school year, as a result of an
14 appropriation for such purpose, and for the 1998-1999,
15 1999-2000, and 2000-2001 school years, as a result of
16 implementation of this act. The results of the study shall be
17 reported to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
18 House of Representatives by December 1, 2001.
19 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 1997.
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22 SENATE SUMMARY
23 Specifies the goal that public school kindergarten and
grades one through three class sizes not exceed 20
24 students. Provides for school district implementation to
the extent funds are appropriated through the General
25 Appropriations Act. Requires annual reports on
expenditures and class size reductions and a study of the
26 impact on student achievement of implementation of the
act.
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