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Resolution Preserves Classroom Flexibility

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By WILL WEATHERFORD

Special to The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 11, 2009

In 2002, when 52 percent of Florida voters cast ballots in favor of a constitutional amendment to reduce class size, they gave Florida schools a mandate to teach students in smaller classes. Since then, the Legislature has honored the will of voters by dedicating $13 billion needed for new classroom construction and hiring new teachers.

The payoff has been seen in classrooms from Pensacola to Miami - Florida's students are now being taught in smaller classes. Remarkably smaller, in fact. Since the passage of the Amendment in 2002, the average class size for students in prekindergarten through third grade has decreased from more than 23 students to fewer than 16. In grades four through eight, the average class size has decreased by more than five students, and for high school, by almost three students. Our students are better for it.

But if we're going to continue to make small class sizes a priority, we must implement a common-sense fix so our students continue to have this benefit while giving our principals and teachers the flexibility they need to keep Florida's education focus where it belongs: classroom learning.

After first being required to meet the class-size requirements at the school district level, then the school level, next year Florida schools are slated to meet the requirements at the individual-classroom level.

This poses an entirely new set of problems for our schools beyond the challenge of decreasing class sizes.

The strict classroom level caps that must be imposed next year are inflexible and virtually impossible to implement and maintain through the school year. If the Legislature does not act, principals will lose flexibility in managing schools, and learning will be constantly disrupted with mid-year moves and transfers affecting entire classes as students are shuffled around to meet the unforgiving requirements.

That is why I'm sponsoring a joint resolution to fix these unintended consequences, while preserving the constitutional integrity of the voters' wishes by holding class-size measurement at the school-average level with limits on individual prekindergarten and elementary classroom sizes. I am pleased that the school board and school superintendents' associations are supportive, along with representatives of Florida's principals and school administrators.

If the joint resolution is passed by the Legislature, voters will have the opportunity to support this common-sense revision that will keep class sizes small in Florida while giving principals and teachers the flexibility they need to maximize student learning.

As a father, small class sizes are important to me. My joint resolution will give us class sizes that are both small for our students and teachers and manageable for schools and principals.

Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, represents parts of Pasco and Hillsborough counties in the Florida House of Representatives.

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