Sen. Don Gaetz and Rep. Will Weatherford Unveil Proposal to "Right Size" Class Size Amendment

Proposal Would Place Update to Class Size Amendment Before Florida Voters

February 02, 2010

Tallahassee - Aiming to "right size the class size amendment," Sen. Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) and Rep. Will Weatherford (R-Wesley Chapel), today announced their proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution to update the 2002 class size amendment. Governor Charlie Crist expressed his support for the proposed amendment.

Instead of the hard, inflexible class size caps instituted by the 2002 amendment, the Constitutional amendment proposed by Sen. Gaetz and Rep. Weatherford would implement class size caps as a school average and provide flexibility for schools to add 3 seats in pre-K to 3rd grade classrooms and 5 seats in grades 4 through 12, if necessary, to meet unforeseen enrollment changes.

"Our proposal does not change the class size targets voters approved in 2002," said Sen. Gaetz who previously served as a school superintendent in Okaloosa County. "This proposed amendment charts a course forward that is fiscally sound and sustainable; respects the role of local educators to make staffing, operations and other decisions; and keeps class sizes at a level where teachers can teach and children can learn."

"Since voters called for smaller classes, Florida has successfully reduced every class size by two students each year, and now we need a more reasonable approach that does not overburden taxpayers," Governor Crist said. "I applaud Senator Gaetz and Representative Weatherford for their common-sense approach that allows us to continue our success while avoiding strict measures that would force students to change schools if a handful too many enroll."

It would require a 3/5 vote of the Legislature to put the Gaetz/Weatherford Constitutional amendment to "right size class size" on the ballot in November. It would require approval of 60% of voters to become law.

In 2002, 52% of Florida voters approved the Class Size Amendment. Since then, the state has invested $16 billion to meet the amendment's requirements. As a result, the average class size in Florida's schools has fallen significantly.

"Since the 2002 amendment passed, Florida has diligently worked to meet the spirit and intent of the law. The days where teachers had to practice crowd control as a rule are a thing of the past in schools across Florida," said Rep. Weatherford. "This class size referendum will allow voters to review the historic progress that has been made and weigh the challenges we face with the flawed 2002 approach of hard caps, inflexible rules and top-down micromanagement of local schools."

Under the 2002 Class Size Amendment, hard classroom caps of 18 students for grades PreK-3; 22 students for grades 4-8; and 25 students for grades 9-12 are scheduled to take effect at the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year.

There currently are 825,000 student stations sitting empty in Florida. Those stations are in every district and at every grade level. Sen. Gaetz and Rep. Weatherford noted the problem with the implementation of the 2002 amendment are the expensive and chaotic logistical problems the hard class size caps would create across the state. Some of the most daunting problems being forecast with the full implementation of the 2002 amendment include:

• Rezoning

• Massive busing

• Disruption in student learning

• Double sessions

• Inability to hire enough qualified teachers

• Elimination of local flexibility

Sen. Gaetz and Rep. Weatherford say their proposal would reduce the number of problems with the final implementation of the 2002 Class Size Amendment while respecting the intent of those who voted for the amendment.

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT

"The state has spent billions of dollars to reduce the size of our school classrooms. Classes are now at a recognizably good size, but to reduce any further would take needed dollars from other important educational tools. Therefore we ask that parents and voters partner with us to maintain class size as it is by passing this referendum." Senator Nancy Detert (R-Venice), Senate PreK-12 Education Committee Chair

"It is painfully obvious that we need to update the class size amendment in the Florida Constitution in order to properly manage student enrollment at each school and allow our teachers to focus on teaching and our children on learning. The proposed Constitutional amendment, when passed, will ensure that the existing management of class size enrollment will be the responsibility of the school principals and not the individual classroom teacher." Senator Steve Wise (R-Jacksonville), Senate PreK-12 Education Appropriations Chair

"It is important that we address this issue this year so we can prioritize funding directly into Florida's classrooms, providing teachers and students with the tools they need to teach and learn." Senator John Thrasher (R-St. Augustine)

"We fully support this measure because it is simply trying to restore common sense into the education process so our students can be better served." Wayne Blanton, Executive Director, Florida School Boards Association (FSBA)

"School districts are currently in the process of developing student schedules for the 2010-2011 school year. A strict compliance to the current Class Size amendment will result in a significant disruption of the school curriculum. A change will allow much needed flexibility and will not undermine the intent of the Class Size amendment. This modification will preserve the integrity of the curriculum that serves Florida students so well." Bill Montford, Chief Executive Officer, Florida Association of District School Superintendents (FADSS)

"Right-Sizing class size is FASA's top legislative priority. Florida's school leaders know better than anyone how important this legislation is to the future of our schools." Jim Warford, Executive Director, Florida Association of School Administrators (FASA)

"In Hillsborough County Public Schools, we have spent nearly $1.24 billion on building classrooms and hiring additional teachers to meet class size amendment requirements. While we know there are benefits to limiting the number of students per teacher, the current reduction achieved its goal of lowering class size. To continue on to the class-by-class cap is not the best use of scarce dollars to improve instruction. It's time to direct those precious dollars to classroom instruction, not class size reduction." MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent Hillsborough County Public Schools

"Given the current economic situation, it is imperative that each school district be given maximum flexibility to spend their education dollars in a manner that will give them the most value for each dollar. With the class size mandates, increased graduation requirements, computerized testing, and virtual school; school districts must be allowed to spend their resources in a manner that will serve students most effectively." Tim S. Wyrosdick, Superintendent of Schools, Santa Rosa County School District

"My daughter began her kindergarten year in an overfilled classroom, and we all know it is difficult for one teacher to meet the needs of 22 children. After 8 weeks or so they hired a new teacher and pulled 4-5 children from all 4 of the kindergarten rooms. Those children were placed in a portable. Kindergarten is a tough transition under any conditions, and, although this reduced the class size, it happened many weeks after school began. The kids were already adjusted to their room, teacher and classmates. It was disrupting that the children had to begin another new adjustment all over again. If the class size amendment changes proposed would help the children in this way, I'm in favor of it." Joanna Wolff, parent

"As a parent of two children in Santa Rosa County public schools, I wholeheartedly support the proposed Constitutional amendment to update the 2002 class size amendment. Just as we teach our children to be flexible in their daily lives as they juggle academics, sports, clubs, work and their free-time, we need our local school administrators to have flexibility in setting school schedules, curriculum and class sizes so that the needs of all students are met as best as possible. This amendment brings back common sense to class size restrictions and affords local school district officials and schools the flexibility they need and deserve to continue to provide the best education possible for Florida's public schoolchildren." Renee Bookout, Santa Rosa County parent, volunteer, and attorney.