Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission 1 Is

Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission 1

Is this possible? Welcome to Sunshine Elementary School. We are not currently accepting new students due to meeting Class Size limitations. No Vacancy – Have met Class Size Amendment 2

Is this possible to have a class without a teacher? 3

Today’s Objectives • Provide an update on progress • Review specific near-term plans • Discuss challenges in implementation • Outline policy options • Answer any questions 4

Class Size Reduction Allocation Authority: s. 1011. 62, F. S. The Legislature provided $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. 5

Class Size Reduction Allocation Authority: s. 1011. 62, F. S. Constitutional Class Size Maximums are: GRADES SIZE PK-3 = 18 per classroom 4 -8 = 22 per classroom 9 -12 = 25 per classroom 6

Class Size Reduction Allocation Authority: s. 1011. 62, F. S. 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 7

Class Size Reduction Allocation Authority: s. 1011. 62, F. S. • For the 2003 -2004 FY through 20052006 FY, compliance is measured at the district-level class size average. (This was workable) • For the 2006 -2007 FY through 20072008 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) 8

Trends in Class Size Reduction 2006 -07 Data based upon preliminary run of 11/03/06 9

Number of Potential Teachers Using 75% of Class Size Allocation 2002 -03 2005 -06 Traditional Schools Net 109, 844 126, 382 16, 538 • 23, 918 = Number of Potential Teachers using 75% of Class Size Allocation • 7, 380 = Difference 10

Core Classroom Teachers Needed to Comply by Grade in 2006 -2007 Traditional Schools 8, 674 585 Charter Schools 9, 259 Total 11

State of Florida Challenge: Many districts are experiencing flat growth in the Local Tax Base 12

State of Florida Challenge: Limited and Declining Revenues at the State Level 13

The State of Florida Strategy Plan Report Continuous Improvement Execute Measure 14

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. 15

Thank You 16