Some lawmakers want to take a second look at the constitutional amendment that limits class size in schools. But the head of the state’s largest teacher’s union says he’d rather see higher taxes than weaker standards.

Right now, the class size requirements are based on average for the entire school. But next year, each and every classroom would have to meet those standards – for example, there could be only 18 students in any Kindergarten classroom.

Some lawmakers say this would be impractical and expensive, costing more than $350 million a year. They want voters to approve another constitutional amendment allowing class size to be determined at the school-wide level.

Florida Education Association President Andy Ford says lawmakers could find the money if they wanted.

"Every year, the Legislature tries to undo what the voters approve, and I think it’s just time for the legislature to bite the bullet and do it,” Ford said.

In an interview for WUSF’s "Florida Matters,” Ford said lawmakers should look at closing loopholes in the state sales taxes, or look at hiking property taxes to make the system fairer.

Ford also said schools could be allowed to go over those limits by a few students, as long as they fix the problem by the next academic year. "Everybody in Tallahassee talks about the 19th child syndrome in a kindergarten classroom. I don’t think anyone envisioned that the whole system would come to a halt when that 19th child walks through the door,” he said.

Instead, Ford says lawmakers could do this by changing the law, without asking for another constitutional amendment.