House Bill 2233
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 1999 HB 2233
By Representative Andrews
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to school size; creating s.
3 235.2157, F.S.; providing legislative findings;
4 defining "small school"; requiring that school
5 districts plan construction of only small
6 schools after a certain date; requiring small
7 schools to comply with racial balance
8 requirements; providing exceptions; providing
9 an 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. Section 235.2157, Florida Statutes, is
14 created to read:
15 235.2157 Small school requirement.--
16 (1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.--The Legislature finds that:
17 (a) Florida's schools are among the largest in the
18 nation;
19 (b) Smaller schools provide benefits of reduced
20 discipline problems and crime, reduced truancy and gang
21 participation, reduced dropout rates, improved teacher and
22 student attitudes, improved student self-perception, student
23 academic achievement equal to or superior to that of students
24 at larger schools, and increased parental involvement; and
25 (c) Smaller schools can provide these benefits while
26 not increasing administrative and construction costs.
27 (2) DEFINITION.--As used in this section, "small
28 school" means:
29 (a) An elementary school with a student population of
30 not more than 500 students.
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Florida House of Representatives - 1999 HB 2233
571-157-99
1 (b) A middle school with a student population of not
2 more than 900 students.
3 (c) A high school with a student population of not
4 more than 1,200 students.
5 (d) A school serving kindergarten through grade 8 with
6 a student population of not more than 700 students.
7 (e) A school serving kindergarten through grade 12
8 with a student population of not more than 900 students.
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10 A school on a single campus which operates on a school within
11 a school concept shall be considered a small school if each
12 subunit physically located on the single campus meets the
13 requirements of this subsection.
14 (3) REQUIREMENTS.--
15 (a) Beginning July 1, 2000, all plans for new
16 educational facilities to be constructed within a school
17 district and reflected in the 5-year school district
18 facilities work plan shall be plans for small schools in order
19 to promote increased learning and more effective use of school
20 facilities.
21 (b) Small schools shall comply with all laws, rules,
22 and court orders relating to racial balance.
23 (4) EXCEPTIONS.--This section does not apply to plans
24 for new educational facilities already under architectural
25 contract on July 1, 2000.
26 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2000.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 1999 HB 2233
571-157-99
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2 HOUSE SUMMARY
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Requires that, after July 1, 2000, all plans for new
4 educational facilities reflected in a district's 5-year
school district facilities work plan be plans for small
5 schools as defined by the section. Requires small
schools to comply with racial balance requirements.
6 Provides that the small school size requirement does not
apply to schools under contract or in the planning
7 process before a certain date.
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