Florida's Amendment to Reduce Class Size

**Jason** · 11-06-2002, 02:10 PM

Summary: Proposes an amendment to the State Constitution to require that the Legislature provide funding for sufficient classrooms so that there be a maximum number of students in public school classes for various grade levels; requires compliance by the beginning of the 2010 school year; requires the Legislature, and not local school districts, to pay for the costs associated with reduced class size; prescribes a schedule for phased-in funding to achieve the required maximum class size.

Full Text:

Article IX, Section 1, Florida Constitution, is amended to read:

Section 1. Public Education.-

The education of children is a fundamental value of the people of the State of Florida. It is, therefore, a paramount duty of the state to make adequate provision for the education of all children residing within its borders. Adequate provision shall be made by law for a uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system of free public schools that allows students to obtain a high quality education and for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of institutions of higher learning and other public education programs that the needs of the people may require. To assure that children attending public schools obtain a high quality education, the legislature shall make adequate provision to ensure that, by the beginning of the 2010 school year, there are a sufficient number of classrooms so that:

1. The maximum number of students who are assigned to each teacher who is teaching in public school classrooms for prekindergarten through grade 3 does not exceed 18 students;

2. The maximum number of students who are assigned to each teacher who is teaching in public school classrooms for grades 4 through 8 does not exceed 22 students; and

3. The maximum number of students who are assigned to each teacher who is teaching in public school classrooms for grades 9 through 12 does not exceed 25 students.

The class size requirements of this subsection do not apply to extracurricular classes. Payment of the costs associated with reducing class size to meet these requirements is the responsibility of the state and not of local school districts. Beginning with the 2003-2004 fiscal year, the legislature shall provide sufficient funds to reduce the average number of students in each classroom by at least two students per year until the maximum number of students per classroom does not exceed the requirements of this subsection.

What do you think? Good idea, bad idea? Reasons?

**Sealy** · 11-06-2002, 02:15 PM

I personally think the classroom size should be smaller than that.
It has bene proven that children learn better when in a smaller classroom enviornment with more individualized attention. Not to mention the children who have ADD or other similar disorders. Ithink all States should adopt that rule ...good for Florida.

**Zvalkor** · 11-06-2002, 08:52 PM

An amendment to the state constitution!!!!! This should be a state law rather than an amendment. I like the idea in that it will force the building of more schools. As far as class size, when I went to school almost all of my classes had more that 25 people in it with no problem learning. I think a big problem with education today is the morals and attitude of the students themselves. More and more parents are not raising their kids and expect the schools to do it. Kids do not want to hear from their parents how to behave and treat people with respect, what makes us think that they are going to listen when the school teaches it. Fewer kids going to school today do not go to learn but to hang out with friends. Reducing class size may help a little in reducing distractions from disruptive kids but we need to get the kids to want to learn. But, in today's moral less society, this may no happen. Throwing more money at the problem is not going to fix it. Just look at california. We keep throwing money into education and students keep scoring lower on tests.

just my 3.14159265 cents worth.

**Pseudocyber** · 11-07-2002, 07:22 AM

"moral less" = amoral.

The following is a sarcastic statement ...

You expect parents to teach morals to their children? You expect children to learn respect, manners, and common courtesy from their parents? You expect parents to confer wisdom upon their children and instil a desire to learn and better themselves!?!?

**Tweetybird** · 11-07-2002, 08:54 AM

On this I agree with Sealy , smaller, is better, they get more of the one on one than being over looked.

11-06-2002, 02:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jason BANNED Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pasco, FL Posts: 8,497 OS: Windows Vista My System Blog Entries: 2	Florida's Amendment to Reduce Class Size Summary: Proposes an amendment to the State Constitution to require that the Legislature provide funding for sufficient classrooms so that there be a maximum number of students in public school classes for various grade levels; requires compliance by the beginning of the 2010 school year; requires the Legislature, and not local school districts, to pay for the costs associated with reduced class size; prescribes a schedule for phased-in funding to achieve the required maximum class size. Full Text: Article IX, Section 1, Florida Constitution, is amended to read: Section 1. Public Education.- The education of children is a fundamental value of the people of the State of Florida. It is, therefore, a paramount duty of the state to make adequate provision for the education of all children residing within its borders. Adequate provision shall be made by law for a uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system of free public schools that allows students to obtain a high quality education and for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of institutions of higher learning and other public education programs that the needs of the people may require. To assure that children attending public schools obtain a high quality education, the legislature shall make adequate provision to ensure that, by the beginning of the 2010 school year, there are a sufficient number of classrooms so that: 1. The maximum number of students who are assigned to each teacher who is teaching in public school classrooms for prekindergarten through grade 3 does not exceed 18 students; 2. The maximum number of students who are assigned to each teacher who is teaching in public school classrooms for grades 4 through 8 does not exceed 22 students; and 3. The maximum number of students who are assigned to each teacher who is teaching in public school classrooms for grades 9 through 12 does not exceed 25 students. The class size requirements of this subsection do not apply to extracurricular classes. Payment of the costs associated with reducing class size to meet these requirements is the responsibility of the state and not of local school districts. Beginning with the 2003-2004 fiscal year, the legislature shall provide sufficient funds to reduce the average number of students in each classroom by at least two students per year until the maximum number of students per classroom does not exceed the requirements of this subsection. What do you think? Good idea, bad idea? Reasons? __________________ Posting Tips \| Advice for New People \| Common Fixes \| Agus na damnaithe fágtha gan focal Glaoigh ormsa i measc na naomh Love to ONE, friendship to a FEW, and good will to ALL.

11-06-2002, 02:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sealy Resident Brat Emeritus :P Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Margaritaville Posts: 2,045 OS: XP(home)	I personally think the classroom size should be smaller than that. It has bene proven that children learn better when in a smaller classroom enviornment with more individualized attention. Not to mention the children who have ADD or other similar disorders. Ithink all States should adopt that rule ...good for Florida. __________________ ~Brightest Blessings~ Sealy Kim --------------------- Ná glac pioc comhairle gan comhairle ban. O Autumn. Laden with fruit, and stained With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit Beneath my shady roof, there thou may'st rest, And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe; And all the daughters of the year shall dance, Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers. -William Blake- Contributions will not go unnoticed.

11-06-2002, 08:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
Zvalkor Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Central Valley, CA Posts: 598 OS: XP Pro , SuSE 8.2	An amendment to the state constitution!!!!! This should be a state law rather than an amendment. I like the idea in that it will force the building of more schools. As far as class size, when I went to school almost all of my classes had more that 25 people in it with no problem learning. I think a big problem with education today is the morals and attitude of the students themselves. More and more parents are not raising their kids and expect the schools to do it. Kids do not want to hear from their parents how to behave and treat people with respect, what makes us think that they are going to listen when the school teaches it. Fewer kids going to school today do not go to learn but to hang out with friends. Reducing class size may help a little in reducing distractions from disruptive kids but we need to get the kids to want to learn. But, in today's moral less society, this may no happen. Throwing more money at the problem is not going to fix it. Just look at california. We keep throwing money into education and students keep scoring lower on tests. just my 3.14159265 cents worth. __________________ If this post seems strange, don't worry. It's just me.

11-07-2002, 07:22 AM	#4 (permalink)
Pseudocyber NetEngr/Geek Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Earth\US\NC\Charlotte Posts: 1,394 OS: Win2K	"moral less" = amoral. The following is a sarcastic statement ... You expect parents to teach morals to their children? You expect children to learn respect, manners, and common courtesy from their parents? You expect parents to confer wisdom upon their children and instil a desire to learn and better themselves!?!? __________________ AM = :coffee: PM = :cheers: CCNA, NNCSSx2, MCSE (NT), A+, CNA

11-07-2002, 08:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tweetybird Dragonfly Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: texas Posts: 647 OS: win98	On this I agree with Sealy , smaller, is better, they get more of the one on one than being over looked. __________________ Life is to short to stay mad , so perk up and give a big smile Tweet, tweet , tweetin. Satan aka mad hatter