TALLAHASSEE — Seeking to dispel the notion of a do-nothing legislative session, Senate President Jeff Atwater today outlined an energetic program of education reforms and less-specific programs of deregulation to create jobs.

In his kickoff speech on the opening day of the session, Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, called for moderating Florida's class-size amendment requirements and strengthening high school graduation requirements. He said Florida students should now be forced to compete outside the "friendly confines of the 50 states" with a tougher math and science curriculum.

"We compete against a world community with a broad and expansive mission, whose target is nothing less than supplanting the enviable economic and political status of the United States of America," Atwater said. "We cannot defend our position with students who are denied exposure to an enriched and vibrant curriculum."

With the state budget facing a possible $3.2 billion shortfall, Atwater said public schools cannot afford the hard cap on class sizes set to take effect next year required under a constitutional amendment passed by citizens in 2002. He called the amendment well-intentioned, but said its intent could be maintained without the hard caps that require expensive construction projects.