Class Size Reduction

In 2002 Florida voters passed the Class Size Reduction amendment mandating that class size in language arts, math, science, social studies, foreign language, and ESE be reduced. The count began as an average but this year has moved to a cap at the number of students listed below. PreK through 3 rd grades: 18 students per class 4 th through 8 th grades: 22 students per class 9 th through 12 grades: 25 students per class Class Size Amendment – Its Effects and Consequences

Elementary School with three first grade classes: 1 st teacher:18 students 2 nd teacher :18 students 3 rd teacher:18 students Class Size Amendment – Its Effects and Consequences Real classroom situation for this school year:

One more student… Class Size Amendment – Its Effects and Consequences

Hire another teacher (net cost $57,000) and split the class with 19 students into two classes of 9 students and 10 students. One student could be moved to another school where there is room in a first grade classroom. Put one of the 1 st graders in a multi-grade classroom where there are fewer than 18 students. Class Size Amendment – Its Effects and Consequences How does the school district propose to comply with the cap of 18 students per class in first grade?

If a new class is created, some students from several classes may be moved into the new class. Students may have bonded with their teacher and will find it upsetting to move to a new teacher. The routines that the first teacher has may be slightly different from the new teacher, meaning that the students will have to relearn the procedures. The teaching and learning process will be disrupted during the transition from one class to another. What effect does creating a new class have on students, parents, and teachers? Class Size Amendment – Its Effects and Consequences

Class size reduction went through 3 stages: 1 st Stage: through : district average Take all the students in classes in the school district that count for class size and divide by the number of teachers in those classes. For example: 8,800 students in grades 4 and 5 (where the average was 22 students per class) divided by 400 teachers equals 22 students per teacher. Some classes may have had more than the allowed 22 students, but by averaging the classes, the average came down to 22 or fewer. Class Size Amendment – Its Effects and Consequences

Sample Class Size by District Average 8,800 students ÷ 400 teachers = 22 students per teacher Class Size Amendment – Its Effects and Consequences

2 nd Stage: 2007 through 2009: School (grade level) average Take all the students in classes in the school or level that count for class size and divide by the number of teachers. For example: 220 students in grades 4 and 5 divided by 10 teachers equals 22 students per teacher. Some classes may have had more than the allowed 22 students, but by averaging the classes, the average came down to 22 students or fewer per teacher. Class Size Amendment – Its Effects and Consequences

220 students ÷ 10 teachers = 22 students per teacher Sample Class Size by School (Grade Level) Average Class Size Amendment – Its Effects and Consequences

The change from a school average to an absolute cap on the number of students in a classroom is the subject of the upcoming amendment on the November ballot. If the amendment is passed, the following numbers in 1 st and 2 nd grades would be legal: 1 st grade: 19, 18, 18 2 nd grade: 17, 18, 18 Under the cap, 19 students in a 1 st grade classroom is out of compliance. As a further complication, any class under 18, 22, 25 by one student will mean a loss of approximately $3,000 since classrooms are expected to be a full capacity. Class Size Amendment – Its Effects and Consequences Transition from School Average to Cap on Number of Students in Class

Constitutional Amendment A constitutional amendment will be on the November, 2010, ballot which will allow Florida voters to determine if they wish the requirement to revert to the school average. Class Size Amendment – Its Effects and Consequences

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 school year. Class Size Amendment – Its Effects and Consequences Proposed Constitutional Amendment

Grades: K-3Grades: 4-8Grades: rd Stage: and forward: Classes are capped at 18 for grades Kindergarten through 3 rd grade, 22 for grades 4 th through 8 th, and 25 for grades 9 th through 12 th. Class Size Caps by Grade Level Class Size Amendment – Its Effects and Consequences

Penalty for Students Over the Cap: A penalty of approximately $4,000 per student will be imposed on school districts with classrooms not at or below the cap numbers. Class Size Amendment – Its Effects and Consequences

This means that in previous years, these numbers were permitted since the average is 22 students per teacher: 4 th Grade th Grade With the cap, the classes with 23 would be out of compliance since the students in 4 th and 5 th grades cannot be averaged together to result in a 22 student to teacher ratio. 4 th Grade th Grade Sample Class Sizes Prior to Sample Class Sizes Class Size Amendment – Its Effects and Consequences

PreK-3:21 students, average remains at :27 students, average remains at :30 students, average remains at 30 Polk County Schools were in compliance with the school average for the school year. Class Size Amendment – Its Effects and Consequences If the amendment passes schools will be required to meet the level average with a maximum size of:

Class Size Reduction Strategies Repurpose Personnel and Funds to Create Class Size Reduction Teachers Hire substitutes and assign them to schools as needed to address class size problems. Put a Freeze on Student Transfers Use of inclusion and co-teaching Reserve units will only be used when an entire teaching unit must be added Opening Schools to Voluntary Students Transfers when class size will be benefited Creation of multi-grade classrooms Class Size Amendment – Its Effects and Consequences

Official Class Size Count The official class size count will occur on October 15 and will be reported to the Florida Department of Education on that date. Class Size Amendment – Its Effects and Consequences

For additional information on Class Size Reduction: Go to the Florida Department of Education website on class size reduction: Class Size Amendment – Its Effects and Consequences