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Florida Taxation and Budget Reform

Commission

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Is this possible?

Welcome to Sunshine ElementarySchool. We are not currently accepting new students dueto meeting Class Size limitations.

No Vacancy – Have met Class Size Amendme

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Is this possible to have a class without a teacher?

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Today’s ObjectivesToday’s Objectives

• Provide an update on progressProvide an update on progress

• Review specific near-term plansReview specific near-term plans

• Discuss challenges in implementationDiscuss challenges in implementation

• Outline policy optionsOutline policy options

• Answer any questionsAnswer any questions

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Authority:Authority:s.1011.62,s.1011.62,

F.S.F.S.

Class SizeClass SizeReductionReductionAllocationAllocation

The Legislature provided

$2,708,412,008 $2,708,412,008 to implement the class size reduction requirements of Florida Statutes.

Funds will be distributed to school districts that have provided sufficient information for the Commissioner of Education to set annual district class size reduction goals.

Class Size ReductionClass Size Reduction

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Class Size ReductionClass Size Reduction

Constitutional Class Size Maximums are:

GRADES SIZE

PK-3 = 18 per classroom

4-8 = 22 per classroom

9-12 = 25 per classroom

Authority:Authority:s.1011.62,s.1011.62,

F.S.F.S.

Class SizeClass SizeReductionReductionAllocationAllocation

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Class Size ReductionClass Size Reduction

Practical Implementation of the hard cap

maximum would mean teachers are allocated

at: GRADES SIZE

PK-3 = 16 per classroom

4-8 = 20 per classroom

9-12 = 22 per classroom

Authority:Authority:s.1011.62,s.1011.62,

F.S.F.S.

Class SizeClass SizeReductionReductionAllocationAllocation

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Class Size ReductionClass Size Reduction• For the 2003-2004 FY through 2005-

2006 FY, compliance is measured at the district-level class size average. (This was workable)

• For the 2006-2007 FY through 2007-2008 FY, compliance is measured at the school-level class size average. (This was hard but workable)

• For the 2008-2009 FY, 2009-2010 FY, and thereafter, compliance is measured at the individual classroom level. (This may not be workable)

Authority:Authority:s.1011.62,s.1011.62,

F.S.F.S.

Class SizeClass SizeReductionReductionAllocationAllocation

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Trends in Class Size Reduction

23.07 20.54 18.98 18.16 17.01

24.1622.43 21.30 20.48 19.45

24.1024.06

23.65 22.9622.22

Grades 9-12 24.10 24.06 23.65 22.96 22.22

Grades 4-8 24.16 22.43 21.30 20.48 19.45

Grades PK-3 23.07 20.54 18.98 18.16 17.01

2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-07*

2006-07 Data based upon preliminary run of 11/03/06

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Number of Potential Teachers Using 75% of Class Size Allocation

2002-03

2005-06

Net

Traditional Schools

109,844

126,382

16,538

• 23,918 = Number of Potential Teachers using 75% of Class Size Allocation

• 7,380 = Difference

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Core Classroom TeachersNeeded to Comply by Grade

in 2006-2007

Traditional Schools

Charter Schools

Total

8,674

585

9,259

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State of Florida Challenge:

Many districts are experiencing flat growth in the Local Tax

Base

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State of Florida Challenge:

Limited and Declining Revenues at the State Level

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Plan

Measure

ExecuteReport

The State of Florida Strategy

Continuous Improvement

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Policy Changes Must Balance Issues

1) Remove the hard caps on every class.

2) Propose a class size strategy that is affordable, workable, and electable.

3) District wide averages with some individual class size restriction may be one.

4) If successful already allocated revenue could be made available for other purposes.

5) Large annual increases to meet hard caps will not be needed.

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Thank You