Senate Bill 2008
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 1999 SB 2008
By Senator Dyer
14-650-99
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to education; creating the
3 "Maximum School Size Act"; providing
4 legislative findings; requiring school
5 districts to submit plans to the Department of
6 Education for decreasing the size of public
7 schools; prescribing information to be included
8 in the plans; prohibiting such plans from
9 conflicting with current law relating to class
10 size, construction standards, or construction
11 costs per student; requiring the department to
12 submit a report and recommendation to the
13 Legislature and the Governor; providing an
14 effective date.
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16 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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18 Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Maximum
19 School Size Act."
20 Section 2. (1) Based on extensive and reliable
21 research the Legislature finds that studies indicate that
22 small school size:
23 (a) Promotes student achievement and sense of
24 belonging;
25 (b) Improves teacher performance and satisfaction,
26 creating a more collaborative effort among colleagues;
27 (c) Reduces the number of acts of social disruption
28 and criminality; and
29 (d) Increases parental involvement in student learning
30 and school activities.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 1999 SB 2008
14-650-99
1 (2) It is the goal of the state to decrease the size
2 of its primary schools, grades kindergarten through six, to no
3 more than 400 students per school by school year 2003-2004.
4 Further, it is the goal of the state to decrease its secondary
5 schools, grades seven through twelve, to no more than 600
6 students per middle school and no more than 800 students per
7 high school by school year 2003-2004.
8 (3) To accomplish these goals, each school district
9 shall submit to the Department of Education its plans for
10 meeting school size standards, as stated in subsection (2), by
11 October 31, 1999. Each plan should present a detailed account
12 of and include:
13 (a) The average school populations for elementary,
14 middle, and high schools as of June 30, 1999;
15 (b) The most cost-effective means of achieving these
16 goals, including, without limitation, new construction,
17 schools-within-schools, usage of existing properties,
18 year-around scheduling, block scheduling, and extended day
19 schedules; and
20 (c) The administrative and instructional personnel
21 needs and costs to accommodate the plan.
22 (4) The goals for establishing small schools should
23 not violate statutes or rules relating to class size,
24 construction standards, or construction costs per-student
25 station. The extent to which an individual school district's
26 plan will depart from these current standards and goals, must
27 be specified in the school district's plan.
28 (5) The Department of Education shall use the school
29 size plans submitted by each school district as a basis for a
30 report and recommendation to be presented with its 2000-2001
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 1999 SB 2008
14-650-99
1 budget request to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of
2 the House of Representatives, and the Governor.
3 Section 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
4 law.
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6 *****************************************
7 SENATE SUMMARY
8 Creates the "Maximum School Size Act." Provides
legislative findings. Requires school districts to submit
9 plans to the Department of Education for decreasing the
size of public schools. Prescribes information to be
10 included in the plans. Prohibits such plans from
conflicting with current law relating to class size,
11 construction standards, or construction costs per
student. Requires the department to submit a report and
12 recommendation to the Legislature and the Governor.
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