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Flash show by Collins Center Amendment 8: Relaxation of class-size requirements Update HOW WE GOT HERE: Frustrated with crowded schools as Florida's population boomed, voters in 2002 passed the Class Size Amendment, capping the number of students allowed in classrooms across the state. The measure was to be phased in over eight years. Since then, the cost to implement the caps has reached $16 billion and school enrollments across the state have slowed along with the faltering economy. This amendment would raise the maximum allowable number of students per class by changing the calculation from per-class maximums to school-wide averages. THE LATEST: The proposed constitutional amendment was passed April 8 by the Florida Legislature and put on the ballot. On July 23, the Florida Education Association filed suit in circuit court in Tallahassee alleging the amendment is misleading and would reduce the state's financial commitment to public schools. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 8 in Tallahassee on the lawsuit.Pending the outcome of that legal challenge, voters will decide in the November general election. If 60 percent or more of the voters approve, the measure will take effect retroactively to the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year.   Can existing class-size rules, set in 2002, be eased by changing the per-class maximum calculations to school-wide averages?  The new proposal would raise the maximum allowable number of students per class by changing the calculation from per-class maximums to school-wide averages. The change would allow a school to be over the average in one class provided that excess is balanced by another class at that school with fewer students than the allowable average. Backers say the change would save millions of dollars and give individual schools a measure of flexibility not present in the current law. Opponents say voters clearly wanted to cap class sizes at the levels they passed into law in 2002, and that students and teachers benefit from smaller class sizes. History The current class size caps were voted into law in 2002 by 52 percent of the voters. The amendment limited classes in pre-K through third grade to 18 students; fourth through eighth grade to 22 students and high school to 25 students. The limits were to be phased in over several years and put into full effect at the start of the 2010-11 school year. Opponents have tried unsuccessfully over the years to make changes to the class-size limits. The state estimates it has spent about $16 billion the past several years preparing to implement the caps, mostly on classroom teacher salaries and benefits. Another $2.9 billion is being proposed for class size reduction funding for the 2010-2011 school year. Proposed legislation Amendment 8 would set the average pre-K through third grade class size at 18 students, but allow a maximum of 21 students in any one class provided it was balanced at that school by a class with fewer than 18 students; set an average of 22 students for fourth through eighth grade but allow a maximum of 27; and set a high school average of 25 students but allow a maximum of 30. Supporters Supporters of Amendment 8 say the millions saved could go to teacher raises instead. Gov. Charlie Crist, school superintendents and school board associations are backing the change. Strapped for money in a down economy, they are wary of the costs associated with hiring more teachers and finding more classrooms to accommodate the limits set to become effective. They complain that the inflexibility of the current law means more portable classrooms and more busing. The bill to put the amendment on the ballot was sponsored by Sen. Don Gaetz, a Republican from Destin, and Rep. Will Weatherford, a Republican from Wesley Chapel. Opponents Opponents argue that the voters made it clear in 2002 that they wanted to limit class sizes. Smaller classes make a better learning environment, they argue. The statewide teachers' union, the Florida Education Association, opposes the bill. The union is calling on the state to fulfill the constitutional mandate and implement the limits approved at the ballot box. Comment  You must be logged in to leave a comment. Login | Register Comments Received: (View all comments) There are no comments

At a Glance AMENDMENT 8 — Sponsor/Originator: Florida Legislature Title on Ballot: Revision of the class size requirements for public schools Official Summary: The Florida Constitution currently limits the maximum number of students assigned to each teacher in public school classrooms in the following grade groupings: for prekindergarten through grade 3, 18 students; for grades 4 through 8, 22 students; and for grades 9 through 12, 25 students. Under this amendment, the current limits on the maximum number of students assigned to each teacher in public school classrooms would become limits on the average number of students assigned per class to each teacher, by specified grade grouping, in each public school. This amendment also adopts new limits on the maximum number of students assigned to each teacher in an individual classroom as follows: for prekindergarten through grade 3, 21 students; for grades 4 through 8, 27 students; and for grades 9 through 12, 30 students. This amendment specifies that class size limits do not apply to virtual classes, requires the Legislature to provide sufficient funds to maintain the average number of students required by this amendment, and schedules these revisions to take effect upon approval by the electors of this state and to operate retroactively to the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year. Arguments for: Proponents of the amendment argue that its cost is simply too high in today's poor economy. They say the state can't afford to build more classrooms and hire more teachers. They say the amendment would provide needed flexibility that does not exist in the Constitution as amended in 2002. Arguments against: Opponents say the state's voters made it clear in 2002 that they wanted to limit class sizes. Smaller classes make a better learning environment, they argue. The statewide teachers' union, the Florida Education Association, opposes the bill. The union is calling on the state to fulfill the constitutional mandate and implement the limits approved at the ballot box. News & Opinion News Tampa Tribune: Teachers union challenges Class Size amendment's wording St. Augustine Record: Candidates support class-size amendment   Opinion The Orlando Sentinel: Ease off the hard class-size cap   My word: Bigger classes, less fun Tampa Tribune: Class size and our summer of discontent St. Augustine Record: Flexible class sizes best for schools St. Augustine Record: Class-size rule + recession=crisis Bradenton Herald: State can't afford more reductions in class size Tampa Tribune: Keep Commitment to Florida's schoolchildren St. Petersburg Times: A sensible adjustment on class sizes Links See this Amendment page En Español  /  An Kreyòl   Lawsuit against Amendment 8 Florida TaxWatch says the amendment would save billions Report says class size amendment made no difference Q&A on existing class size amendment and its requirements From FDOE: Class size averages 2009-10 -- traditional schools Care to Comment? Or read the comments of others? Click here.