2011 Florida Class Size Bill (SB2120)

From a voter initiative in 2002, Florida altered the state constitution and added a class size reduction amendment regulating class size to 18 for K - 3, 22 for 4 - 8, and 25 for grades 9 - 12. Schools were eased into the changes and afforded time to make the necessary adjustments based on the following timeline:

• School years 2003 - 2006, school district averages were used to determine compliance.
• School years 2006 - 2009, school wide averages were used (this was extended during the 2010 legislative session through 2009 - 2010 school year). 
• Beginning in 2010 - 2011, schools were required to meet the mandate at the classroom level.

The cost to meet these requirements (based on Florida Department Education’s estimate) were $18.7 billion. In 2010, the legislature recommended an amendment to alter the current constitutional language in an effort to make the reform budget-friendly. This would have loosened the requirements to school wide averages as opposed to individual classrooms. Ultimately, this referendum received 55% of the vote, but failed to meet Florida’s 60% voter approval requirement.

During the 2011 legislative session, representatives modified the original language in order to provide school districts with increased flexibility in meeting the voter mandate. SB2120 removed the cap requirements for students enrolled in college credit courses among many others. In addition, districts will be granted permission to exceed the cap by 3 students per classroom when the district determines an emergency situation is present and the increase will not impede the learning environment of the students. Emergency situations, although, are not clearly defined nor is a timeline for action provided.

Many school and district administrators feel the 2011 bill affords increased flexibility in meeting the class size mandate and reduces the stress of facing significant financial penalties from the Department of Education. Opponents of the bill voiced concerns that legislators are out of touch with the citizenry and this is simply a way to circumvent a voter driven mandate. Since the modifications stand to affect only 304 classes (versus the original 849), some have argued this piece of legislation appears to be a way of circumventing voter intent. In addition, legislators have not yet provided sufficient funding needed to meet the remaining requirements leaving many school districts to question whether this legislation is feasible.