Pinellas tweaks legislative wish list

A revised draft of the Pinellas school district's 2010 legislative agenda includes a few interesting changes - all suggested by school board members at last week's workshop.

It now begins with an excerpt from Article IX of the Florida Constitution - the excerpt that says it's a "paramount duty" of the state to make "adequate provision" for "high quality" schools. That's the same language that opened the door to this new lawsuit.

It now notes in the first section that the school board has been "unable to provide pay increases for any employee groups in the past three years." (It continues to say that the board's goal is to increase teacher salaries to the national average and that the Legislature should "build a budget that allows that to happen.")

It no longer says the Legislature should consider a proposal for a constitutional revision that would make the class-size amendment more flexible, but continues to ask for "as much statutory flexibility as possible."

The board will consider the revised draft on Jan. 12.

Taking one more run at the class size amendment

The way state Sen. Mike Bennett sees Florida's class-size reduction amendment, it's a good idea in theory but not in practice.

"All of the studies show it's not working out the way we thought it would," Bennett, a Bradenton Republican, told the Gradebook. "The costs are out of control. The schools are begging for relief. We didn't give them enough flexibility in it."

There's just not enough lipstick to put on this pig, Bennett suggested. The time has come, he concluded, to "repeal it and start over."

Maybe the best teachers should teach more kids

Here's a teacher-quality-related idea that might crash up against Florida's class-size amendment but could dovetail with its efforts to expand virtual schooling. The national consulting firm Public Impact says in this new report that instead of trying to boost the ranks of top teachers by doing more to recruit, train and retain, maybe districts should expand the reach of the top teachers they already have -- by giving them more students either directly or virtually.

Public Impact calls these teachers 3X teachers -- because research shows that teachers in the top 20 percent get three times the learning gains of teachers in the bottom 20 percent. The report says that efforts to boost their ranks are doomed to fall short, which is why a new approach is needed.

Despite these efforts -- and even if they grow far faster -- our nation still will not have an excellent teacher in every classroom. Why? Simply put, the magnitude of the gap is too enormous. For example, as an article in The Atlantic reported, Georgia has 440 high schools but only 88 certified physics teachers. And, if those 88 follow the typical distribution, only 15 or so are top-notch teachers. None of the strategies we are pursuing as a nation could realistically move Georgia from having 15 excellent physics teachers to having 440. Students in 425 schools in Georgia will have a sub-optimal learning experience in a subject that's vital to the economic prospects of our nation.

*

Should Florida change its class-size rules? Lawmakers want to hear your thoughts

The Florida Department of Education is busy running the numbers to see how many teachers school districts might need to hire next fall when the class size amendment moves to classroom counts.

Districts are making noises about how difficult it will be to meet the stricter rules next fall. Newspapers are publishing stories highlighting those concerns.

In that atmosphere, Florida lawmakers are again talking about how they should deal with the amendment, especially in light of budget estimates projecting continued multibillion-dollar deficits.

The Florida House seems poised to pass yet another measure aimed at keeping the class-size reduction rules as a school average. "We're going to do exactly what we did last time," said Rep. Will Weatherford, chairman of the House Education Policy Council.

But will the Senate follow?

Pasco schools cope with class size issues

Soon after the 20-day student counts were complete, Pasco school district leaders huddled to figure out whether they needed to make adjustments to meet Florida's class-size reduction mandate.

With teacher allocations tight and student enrollment a bit better than expected in some schools, the situation was clear: Some schools weren't even making a school average for class-size. (Among them, Wiregrass Ranch High, Gulf High, Smith Middle, Hudson Middle and a bunch of elementary schools.)

The recommended answer is to shift resources to get more teachers into those schools. That proposal goes to the School Board on Tuesday.

But is it the right approach?

Florida Board of Education considers bigger budget for next year

With the recession bottoming out (hopefully), and another $1 billion or so of federal stimulus money headed to Florida schools next year, the state Board of Education appears to be feeling pretty optimistic.

The BOE will consider a $19.3 billion legislative budget request when it meets in Miami next week – an increase of 8 percent over last year's budget. The 2010-11 proposal is more or less a wish list, with the Florida Legislature and Gov. Charlie Crist making the final decisions. But it may offer insight into what some decision makers are thinking six months before start of session. The proposed budget includes:

• $6.71 billion for the Florida Education Finance Program, an increase of $706.9 million, or nearly 12 percent

• $3.2 billion for class size reduction, up $353.7 million from last year

• $1.19 billion for community colleges, up $134.8 million

Janssen: Pinellas needs more fundamental schools, more class size flexibility

The Pinellas school district will continue to increase the number of seats in fundamental schools as long as parents keep demanding them, superintendent Julie Janssen said this afternoon. More specifically, she said the district will look at the demand for high school fundamental seats to see whether another high school needs a fundamental program to complete the lone existing program at Osceola High.

"If we have enough to start another program at another high school, we will do that," Janssen told members of the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club. "We're going from a scarcity model to a supply and demand model. I really believe we need to give our families what they're asking for."

On class size reduction, though, Janssen suggested the research doesn't back up the expense. The 2002 class size amendment passed by overwhelming margins, despite research that suggests the academic benefits from modest (but hugely expensive) reductions in class sizes are minimal.

"One of the things that has really hurt us is the amount of money we have put into building classrooms because of the class size amendment," she said in response to a question about how the Legislature could help the district. "I'm not sure there are any statistics out there that says 25 students in the class yields much higher student success than 30 students in the class. And because we're going to classroom by classroom (caps) next year, it's devastating."

Janssen told the Gradebook after her appearance that she would support legislative efforts to replace the classroom caps with a schoolwide average. "That's a help," she said. "I'd prefer they put something on the ballot that is anything but classroom by classroom (caps)."

*

Time running out for class-size proposal

A Republican-led push to loosen the state's class-size mandate with a 2010 ballot measure is stalling to its death in the Senate, so far not making it to the floor for discussion. And this is the final day for all non-budget legislation.

The proposal, which passed the House last month, would have asked Floridians to halt class-size compliance at the current schoolwide average, while raising the maximum number of students allowed per classroom. School boards, superintendents and administrators threw their support to the measure, but the teachers union is fighting to the end. Lawmakers can approve the plan next year and still make the 2010 ballot.

"It really is frivolous in the sense that if they’re not going to tie something to it, why sit it around, you know, just go ahead and put it next year," said Senate sponsor Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville. "I mean, that’s my opinion. I just work here."

By "tie something to it," Wise is referring to his proposal to combine the class-size amendment with a permanent penny sales tax increase to benefit education funding. The combo ballot measure, which Wise suggested as a 2009 special election vote, was a non-starter with House Republican leaders and never was introduced in the Senate.

Senate budget offer has some good news

The first offer is in for the preK-12 budget conference committee, and the news is good, especially for the popular Virtual School. The Senate moves to the House position in a number of key areas:

• Per-student funding: Senate moves per-student funding to $6,893, about a $33 increase over the 2008-09 level. That offer is higher than either the previous Senate position (keeping constant at $6,860.36) or the House position ($6,890.46).

• Virtual School: The Senate backs away from a planned 15 percent cut to the Florida Virtual School's $116 million budget, using the House model to eliminate class size reduction funds and other measures. The total funds-per-student reduction is about 10 percent, the Senate says. The offer also kills the plan to scale back virtual offerings to just core high school courses, meaning no more summer programs, enrichment or credit recovery courses. "I've come to my senses," said Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, chair of the preK-12 budget conference committee.

• AP/IB funding: The Senate proposes keeping money for popular advanced placement and International Baccalaureate classes untouched, unlike its previous plan to halve funding for training and instructional materials and pare the teacher bonus for students who pass the rigorous course exams. School districts have been trying to ramp up AP and IB offerings to prepare for a new high school grading system next year that puts more weight on those courses.

Rep. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, said the Senate's offer looks good on first glance.

"We've kept our commitment to keep per-student spending at the same level," she said. "We'll have to spend some time going through it."

*

Class-size changes not dead yet

There has been much talk that efforts in the Florida Legislature to ask voters to scale back the 2002 class-size amendment never will make it to the ballot.

The Senate — where all similar such attempts have gone to die — consistently has sounded like the naysayer again. Senate President Jeff Atwater said it won't move. Senate Ed Appropriations chairman Steve Wise pressed to tie the vote to an increased sales tax for education.

With a super-majority needed to put the issue before voters, the bill's fate didn't look good.

Then a funny thing happened. Democrats started signaling their support.

ICYMI, the Senate Education Pre-K-12 Appropriations Committee unanimously voted Monday to send SJR 1828 to its next destination. That includes Democrats Gary Siplin of Orlando and Larcenia Bullard of Miami. So long as the voters get to decide, they suggested, there's no harm in asking.

Class-size measure passes House

After about 45 minutes of debate, the House this morning approved Wesley Chapel Republican Will Weatherford's proposal to ask voters to loosen the class-size mandate.

The House vote was 78-41, with three Democrats joining Republicans in the yay camp: Rep. Leonard Bembry, D-Madison; Rep. Debbie Boyd, D-High Springs; and Rep. Jim Waldman, D-Coconut Creek. Republican Ray Sansom missed the vote.

A proposed constitutional amendment requires a three-fifths vote of both chambers. The measure is due to be heard in a Senate committee Monday.

"I don’t view this as class-size repeal," Weatherford said. "It is merely making it better. It is taking a good idea and making it workable."

House takes up class-size proposal

The full House took up Wesley Chapel Republican Will Weatherford's proposal to ask voters to loosen the class-size amendment today, with Democrats failing in a bid to amend the measure.

HJR 919 would put a constitutional amendment on the 2010 ballot asking voters to halt the class-size mandate at the schoolwide average, whereas the 2002 amendment requires schools to hold to classroom maximums by the beginning of the 2010 school year. It was rolled over for a vote another day.

"Class size is important and we want to maintain the integrity of class size," Weatherford said. "But at the same time it’s not flexible, it’s not amendable, it is extremely expensive and the final benefit of class size, we don’t even know exists, if there is one."

U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek tries to protect class size

U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami, is in Tallahassee today making the rounds to remind lawmakers why they need to protect the class-size amendment he championed in 2002.

"I feel that this is a major insurance policy on behalf of Florida’s children," said Meek, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Mel Martinez.

His visit comes as the full House prepares to take up Wesley Chapel Republican Rep. Will Weatherford's proposal to ask voters to loosen the class-size mandate.

Penny tax rates high in new FEA poll

In a poll released today by the Florida Education Association, 77 percent of Florida voters strongly or somewhat favor imposing a penny sales tax increase for three years if funds are dedicated to public education.

"In the Legislature, there is no consensus on how to make our schools a priority and we only have three weeks to go," said Andy Ford, president of the FEA. "Florida's voters agree with us. We need to invest in our public schools."

The poll of 800 registered Florida voters was conducted March 11-17 by Hamilton Campaigns and has a margin of error of 3.5 percent.

Class-size proposal headed to House floor

Wesley Chapel Republican Rep. Will Weatherford's proposal to give voters the chance to loosen the class-size mandate cleared its last committee this afternoon and is headed to the House floor.

HJR 919 would put an amendment on the 2010 ballot that would freeze the class-size standards at the current schoolwide average, averting a stricter classroom maximum scheduled to go into effect next year. The mandate stems from a 2002 amendment approved by 52 percent of Florida voters.

The House Rules & Calendar Council advanced the measure on an 18-4 vote, with four Democrats in the nay count. Most of the concern voiced was over the conflict of voting on an amendment to loosen standards in November 2010, but having to implement the strict standards by August 2010, when that school year starts.

Penny tax/class size combo 'in the oven'

Wondering what has become of that idea last week for a combined constitutional amendment on the penny tax for education and the move to loosen class-size standards?

Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, says they're working on it, but have to get past these budget discussions.

"It's still in the oven," said Wise, chair of the Senate preK-12 appropriations committee. "We just gotta make sure that we cook it all the way."

Despite a cool reaction to the idea from House Republican leaders, Wise said, "It's something that we're still considering and the president of the Senate is considering, and when we get a go ahead, we'll go ahead."

Andy Ford, president of the Florida Education Association, said the union is still looking at the idea, too: "We have polled the issue and we'll talk about that next week."

Wondering what has become of that idea last week for a combined constitutional amendment on the penny tax for education and the move to loosen class-size standards?

Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, says they're working on it, but have to get past these budget discussions.

"It's still in the oven," said Wise, chair of the Senate preK-12 appropriations committee. "We just gotta make sure that we cook it all the way."

Despite a cool reaction to the idea from House Republican leaders, Wise said, "It's something that we're still considering and the president of the Senate is considering, and when we get a go ahead, we'll go ahead."

Andy Ford, president of the Florida Education Association, said the union is still looking at the idea, too: "We have polled the issue and we'll talk about that next week."

Weatherford to Meek: Let's chat class size

Will Weatherford, the sponsor of the state House joint resolution to ask voters to loosen the class-size standards, is looking to meet with Congressman Kendrick Meek, the mastermind of Florida's landmark 2002 voter-approved class-size amendment.

Meek plans to return to Tallahassee later this month to rally Democratic members in the fight against Weatherford's measure and the Senate version sponsored by Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville. And Weatherford is hoping to grab some time.

"I haven’t heard from him and I need to probably reach out to him, because I want to make sure he understands what we’re trying to do," the Wesley Chapel Republican said Thursday:

"What his intention for the amendment was, I don’t disagree with. And I think if he really knew what the intention of our amendment was, he wouldn’t disagree with it either. But he and I probably need to sit down and chat about it. I know he’s busy running for the Senate, but when he has 10 minutes, I’m going to try to get his ear."

Florida PTA won't take sides on sales tax for education

Sorry, teachers. The state's largest parent group won't be joining your attempt to get Florida lawmakers to increase the state sales tax and dedicate the revenue to public education.

The Florida PTA has announced its official neutrality on the idea, which some senators are backing but House members are rejecting.

The PTA supports reforming the state's tax structure and eliminating loopholes, the group says. But it has no position on a sales tax and isn't about to take one.

When it comes to the other connected issue -- class sizes at the classroom level -- the PTA does stand side by side with the Florida Education Association in opposing any changes to the 2002 amendment:

"PTA‘s position is that class size reduction proposals should be based on actual class size, the number of students in each classroom for whom the teacher is accountable, rather than ratios and averages, which do not accurately reflect the actual number of pupils in each classroom."

The House bill seeking a new vote on class size is headed to the Rules and Calendar Council tomorrow. The Senate version has been assigned to the Education Appropriations Committee.

*

Poll: Class size and sales tax

Would you support a plan to scale back the class-size amendment paired with a sales-tax increase for education?
Yes, that's a good compromise
No, I like the tax but leave class-size alone
No, I back class-size changes but no new taxes
No, they're both bad ideas

Rep. Meek returns from D.C. to fight class size

The brainchild of Florida's class size amendment, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami, is back in the game, ready to protect his legacy.

As the Legislature considers joint resolutions to loosen classroom limits mandated by the 2002 amendment, Meek sent letters this week to Democratic leaders in the state House and Senate urging them to protect "the will of the electorate" and also asking if he can meet with the Democratic caucus on April 13.

In nearly identical letters to Rep. Franklin Sands, D-Weston, and Sen. Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, Meek said, "Turning back on the class size amendment now is a slippery slope. Already, county administrators have said that they would use the modified amendment as an allowance to raise class sizes in order to 'save' money. But, we cannot go backwards. There is no doubt that Florida faces a heavy lift economically. But years from now we will all be known by today's investments in and commitment to our youngest citizens."

Meek is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Mel Martinez.

Let's make a deal: Senate looks to combine class size, sales tax ideas

Here's confirmation of the rumor we've been hearing for weeks. The news emerged late Wednesday that there's a horse trade afoot to join proposals to scale back the class-size amendment and amp up the state sales tax in a single ballot initiative.

It's been no secret that many powerful Florida GOP lawmakers want to change the 2002 class-size reduction amendment to make it less onerous and less expensive to implement.

At the same time, it has been equally clear that many influential Florida Democratic lawmakers and the Florida Education Association want a sales tax increase to pump more money into the state's public schools.

Neither side particularly likes the others' idea. But a group of senators thinks perhaps a compromise that would let each have its way is a better solution than letting neither have its way.

Rep. Kiar: Don't go backward on class size

With budgets tight, Florida's 2002 class-size reduction amendment has come squarely in the cross-hairs of lawmakers looking to cut back spending. They argue that the state need not spend close to $1 billion more moving to maximum classroom counts of students.

The Florida Education Association and many of its supporters don't buy the pitch. State Rep. Marty Kiar, the House Democrats' education point man, suggests in a guest post to the Gradebook that Florida can find flexibility in the rules without altering the state Constitution again. [The Gradebook welcomes original guest columns on Florida education issues. E-mail your contributions to solochek@sptimes.com for consideration.]

Read on for Kiar's views on the class-size amendment:

"More than six years ago, Floridians approved the constitutional Class Size Reduction Amendment, which demands that the Legislature provide our children with smaller class sizes and better learning environments.

"In the current lawmaking session, a proposed joint resolution would place on the 2010 ballot a new amendment that significantly alters class-size requirements for public schools.

"I have concerns about putting another joint resolution on the ballot. It is my belief that the current class-size requirements should be made more flexible through statute rather than another constitutional amendment. A statutory fix by the Legislature would be the best and most efficient way to provide relief to our school districts. Such a move would provide needed flexibility.

Senate class-size proposal advances

A push to amend the class-size requirements is gaining steam, passing the Senate pre-K-12 policy committee today, one day after Wesley Chapel Rep. Will Weatherford's version passed a House committee.

The Senate effort is led by Jacksonville Republican Stephen Wise, who said "most all the parties believe this gives us the right flexibility to manage class size."

SJR1828 would have Florida voters reconsider the 2002 voter-approved class-size amendment and stop the state's reduction effort at the school average. The proposed 2010 ballot measure also would set a cap for student enrollment per classroom slightly above the average. Under the amendment as approved in 2002, schools otherwise would have to start counting students in every core-curriculum classroom for the 2010-11 school year.

Bernie Schultz, first vice president of the Broward Teachers Union, nervously stood before the committee and gave a ground-level view of class size.

"Right now, everyone has a chair, everyone has a textbook and learning is happening," she said.

Class size bill discussion gets under way

Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, got an early win for his class size resolution today with a 10-3 vote of the House preK-12 policy committee.

HJR919 would have Florida voters reconsider the class size amendment with a 2010 ballot measure. It also would cap student enrollment per classroom slightly above the average. Under the amendment as approved in 2002, schools otherwise would have to start counting students in every core-curriculum classroom for the 2010-11 school year.

"This is a perfect example of something that everyone knows … the full implementation of class size is not workable," Weatherford said. "I have not talked to a single administrator, principal, superintendent of schools or school board member who thinks it is. I think even the teachers union recognizes it.

"The question becomes, what do we do about it? Do we ignore it? Do we fight changing that because it’s what we’ve always done? Or do we do the right thing, do what I would consider to be statesmanlike and say, 'Hey, maybe we were wrong, maybe we can fix the Constitution and make it workable but still maintain the integrity of the program'?"

Democratic representatives Rick Kriseman, Marty Kiar and Dwight Bullard were the nay votes, but each one said he hoped to work with Weatherford to make the resolution something he could support.

Amy Hollyfield, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau

*

FEA urges supporters to just say no to class-size changes

A resolution to have voters reconsider Florida's class-size amendment gets its first legislative hearing tomorrow, and the state teachers' union is hoping to stop the measure before it gets rolling.

In its latest Action Alert, the Florida Education Association provides language for its backers to send to members of the House Pre-K-12 Policy Committee in advance of its Tuesday afternoon meeting.

"Smaller classes are better-behaved classes, and smaller classes reduce dropout rates - an advantage in the higher grades," the text reads. "HJR 919 and SJR 1828 provide no maximum at the individual classroom level in grades 9-12 and would be a major step backwards."

The resolution is considered likely to pass both the heavily Republican House and Senate as lawmakers look for ways to save billions, and the cost to fully implement the class-size amendment is expected to cost an additional $1 billion. Many lawmakers have said the FEA is probably the primary stumbling block to scaling back the amendment's full effects.

To see the FEA's full recommended e-mail, read on.

Advisory committee urges Elia to press lawmakers for class-size changes

A committee of parents, community leaders and school district staffers aimed to give Hillsborough superintendent MaryEllen Elia some ammunition as she presses for changes to the class-size amendment in Tallahassee.

The group, which has been meeting for more than a year, recommended Thursday that the move to classroom counts be postponed as long as possible, and that lawmakers ask voters to reconsider the scope of the 2002 amendment. The committee also called for a reduction in the penalties assessed against districts that fail to comply with the rules -- at least as long as the economy makes it near impossible for the state to pay for full compliance.

Perhaps most important, committee members said, is the need for the Legislature to clarify such things as when exactly the law will take effect and how it will be implemented. They wanted to know, for instance, when and how often the state would count students.

Co-chairman Bill Person said the committee needed to make its suggestions now, so the superintendent with broad community backing can have "a prime opportunity to influence the legislation." Other more local efforts to deal with the amendment, such as redrawing school attendance zones across the county, will wait, he said.

*

Don't want to cancel class size? Then how about a class size voucher?

You read that right. Class. Size. Voucher.

Freshman Rep. Mike Horner, R-Kissimmee, has filed a bill with the title "Class Size Grants" that takes a different approach to tackling the 2002 amendment. Rather than scaling back the measure, as key GOP leaders have proposed, Horner suggests this:

"The Class Size Grant Program is established to provide the option to attend a public school other than the one to which a student is assigned, or to provide a grant to a private school of choice, for students assigned to classrooms that exceed the constitutional class size limits." (Emphasis added.)

There's no Senate companion bill yet. But there could be -- along with several other stabs at altering what many lawmakers have called one of the biggest hurdles they face in dealing with next year's budget. Can't wait to hear what the FEA says about this latest one.

*

Sen. Wise joins effort to scale back class-size amendment

On Tuesday, Rep. Will Weatherford filed legislation that would have lawmakers ask voters to scale back the class-size amendment.

The House can't unilaterally put an item on the ballot, though. So now it's in the Senate, too.

Sen. Steve Wise, R-Jacksonville, (shown) filed a near identical version of the resolution this morning, adding just two words to the text. He met with leaders of several education groups to discuss the measure and seek their backing.

"Everybody was supportive of it, all of the organizations with the exception of the teachers' union," Wise told the Gradebook. "Our job is to get them on board."

Is that likely. Perhaps not. FEA spokesman Mark Pudlow recently told the Gradebook of the amendment, "We are still fully behind making sure that it is fully funded."

*

Weatherford files bill to have voters reconsider class-size amendment

It comes as no surprise, but here's the news: Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, has filed a resolution that would have Florida voters reconsider the class-size amendment.

Simply put, Weatherford's proposal, which would require support in the House and Senate, would stop the state's class-size reduction effort at the school average. It also would set a cap for student enrollment per classroom slightly above the average.

Under the amendment as approved in 2002, schools otherwise would have to start counting students in every core-curriculum classroom for the 2010-11 school year.

Weatherford is among many lawmakers who argue that the state simply can't afford that next step.

In a recent interview with the Gradebook, Weatherford explained that the constitution is "supposed to be a guideline and a framework. If there ever is supposed to be a class-by-class count, it should be in statute, not in the constitution."

When is 2010? A class-size question that matters

The answer seems fairly obvious.

The class-size amendment approved by Florida voters in 2002 states that the Legislature shall ensure that all public schools have enough classrooms to meet the strict class maximums "by the beginning of the 2010 school year."

A FAQ from the Department of Education clarifies the point: "By fall 2010, no classroom in which a core course is taught may contain more students than allowed by the constitutional limits." It's in the implementing legislation that way, too.

Yet as the drumbeat grows louder in Tallahassee to postpone the amendment's final phase -- and the nearly billion-dollar price tag associated with it -- so too does the wiggle room that lawmakers and others involved seek to get around the requirement.

A weekend interview with House Pre-K-12 policy chairman John Legg

State Rep. John Legg, R-New Port Richey, chairs the House Pre-K-12 Policy Committee and sits on the Education Policy Council as well as the House education appropriations committees. He spoke with reporter Jeff Solochek about what he expects to see occur in the coming legislative session regarding class size, Bright Futures, graduation standards and other education matters.

Tell me a little bit about the education priorities you see in the House for this year.

Some of the big issues we're looking at are, one, dealing with the differential grading. Making sure that school grading and AYP are aligned. It's very difficult for parents to know that if their school is an A school and yet fails AYP, what does that mean. So one of the big issues is making sure that we address those issues dealing with differential grading. The second issue that's a priority of mine is dealing with college readiness, ensuring that we increase our standards to keep Florida competitive, making sure that our students that are graduating from our high schools in Florida can be competitive in this global market.

And the third issue is, I think you're going to see us addressing the class size amendment. With the current budget crunch I don't know how it's going to be able to be paid for. We want to be sure the voters understand the cost of the implementation of it, and see if the voters do want us to implement the class size amendment, what kind of revenues do we have to find in order to pay for that.

Talk a little bit about the second one, the standards. You just raised the standards last year. What more needs be be done? And why?

In reviewing that we want to make sure that, for example Algebra II. I want to ensure that when our students graduate from high school they're ready for college, that they can do college work. So much remediation takes place right now in the first year of college. If you look at our students now, even the ones on Bright Futures (scholarships), those that are on the partial Bright Futures, the 970 (SAT score). Most of them are unable to do the work because they are just not prepared for the rigors that are involved. So we want to take a look at what our colleges need those students to be ready for matches up with what our high schools are producing and what we expect at high school.

How does that tie into, if at all, the end of course exams that are being worked on?

Step 1: No penalties for missing class size rules

Florida education commissioner Eric J. Smith won't be forcing school districts (none local) that failed to meet the class-size amendment to shift $570,000 from general operations to construction, as the law allows him to do.

"Granting these waivers seemed to be the most appropriate action to take given these circumstances," Smith said in an e-mail to the Gradebook. "Based on the reductions districts experienced earlier this year we didn't want to take more from their overextended budgets."

But what of next year?

Rep. Weatherford issues class size challenge

Asked for their views on state education policy, some Pasco school administrators told two key lawmakers that they would like to have more flexibility in implementing the class size amendment.

They'd prefer to keep it at the school level than force classroom counts.

State Rep. Will Weatherford, the Wesley Chapel Republican in line to become House speaker in 2012, told the group that the Legislature could have the question "off the floor and on the ballot within two weeks."

Just one problem, Weatherford said: "I'm worried about the (teachers) union. .... Frankly, they're the only ones standing in the way."

He urged the administrators to talk to teachers and impress upon them the growing cost of the 2002 amendment and ask them not to fight an effort to scale back its implementation.

He and Rep. John Legg, a New Port Richey Republican who chairs the House Pre-K-12 Education Policy Committee, predicted that dealing with class size will be one of the biggest issues facing the Legislature this spring.

*

Class size reduction: not for Florida charter schools

While pondering how to cope with the expense of the state's class size mandates, perhaps Florida's public education leaders might want to chew on this: A state hearing officer has ruled that the 2002 class size amendment does not apply to charter schools.

In a nutshell, the Renaissance Charter School Inc. and the Lee Charter Foundation Inc. -- both subsets of Charter Schools USA -- complained to the state last March that the class size amendment was hurting their operations.

Yet the Florida Department of Education hasn't adopted any rules for charter schools to follow if they haven't met the amendment's requirements. So charter schools shouldn't have to comply. Right?

Right, says administrative law judge Suzanne Hood.

A weekend interview with ...

... Nancy Detert, chairwoman of the Senate Pre-K-12 Education Committee. Detert, a Sarasota Republican, spoke with Jeff Solochek about the financial choices for education that lawmakers face as they approach a special legislative session that begins Monday.

What should we expecting in the special session? I know that money is the topic, and I was wondering how schools should be expecting to fare. Because everybody seems to be expecting the worst.

Well, I think that there's just no question that the schools are going to lose money. For one thing, the money is attached to the student, and we've had 30,000 students leave the state of Florida and leave the school system. So that money will not be replaced. My chore will be to try to protect the rest and make sure there are no other cuts other than the money you would have naturally lost due to student decline.

How can you do that, while everybody seems to be thinking that 2-3 percent is what's coming as a first round of cuts? Or, I guess this would be the second round of cuts.

Well, actually, I'm pretty new to this, but I think they've had a 4 percent hold back, and we have to hope we don't hit another 4 percent cut. But it's very difficult to balance the budget, which we have to legally do, and not touch health care and education when they make up most of the budget.

Are there certain parts of education that would be more likely to get cut than other parts?

A weekend interview with ...

... Peter Boulware, the newest member of the Florida State Board of Education. Boulware, a former FSU football star who went on to play in the NFL, will complete the term vacated by Donna Callaway. He spoke with reporter Jeff Solochek about his views on state education issues and public service.

Why did you want to be on the State Board of Education?

I feel so fortunate. I had the opportunity to get a scholarship from FSU and live my dreams and go to the NFL. I really enjoyed that. I thought I wanted to come back to the state and really get involved and help out in any way I possibly can. Obviously I ran for office the last couple of years and fell a little short. But I knew I wanted to stay involved. I wanted to help out as much as I possibly can. So I got this appointment. I'm proud and honored to do it, and I'm honored to be able to try to serve the state.

When you look at what is going with the state these days, especially with regard to finances, it would seem you have a hard set of decisions that you'd be facing immediately. What are your thoughts about how education can deal with the budget cuts that are coming?

Well, I tell you what. It's tough for everybody. I'm a local businessman. I know everyone is facing the same thing - budget cuts, budget shortfalls. So it's going to be difficult to make it through this thing. We're going to have to look at the programs that are most effective, the programs that are working the best, and the programs where we're getting the most bang for our buck, and try to focus on those. After that, see where we have to go from there. But it's just going to be tough right now for everybody in the state. Budget shortfalls are very difficult to come through.

Do you look at the class-size amendment at all and have any thoughts about it? Because it seems like that's where a lot of money is going, and it's of dubious nature whether it's going to be one of those programs that works well.

Class size under scrutiny elsewhere, too

It's no surprise by now that Florida educators and lawmakers are taking a close look at how to put off full implementation of the 2002 class-size reduction amendment. Many see it as simply too cost-prohibitive in these tight economic times, when districts face millions of dollars in cuts.

Perhaps it's cold comfort, but Florida is not alone in re-examining its commitment to smaller class sizes. Consider this lead from a story in today's Washington Post:

"Worsening budget conditions are pressing school officials in the Washington area and across the country to consider backing away from what has become a mantra of education: Kids learn best in smaller classes."

The crux of the matter is that schools are needing to find ways to save money, and as we often hear, employees account for about 85 percent of all expenses, so employees are likely to be cut. Fewer teachers, more kids per teacher. Perhaps 20 percent more in some districts. Like it or not.

A weekend interview with ...

... Scott Howat, lobbyist for Orange County Schools and the president of the Florida Education Legislative Liaisons.  Howat also is a member of the Seminole Community College board of trustees.  Howat spoke with reporter Jeff Solochek about public education legislative priorities for the spring session.

Have you had a chance to go over the legislative priorities and talk to lawmakers to see where things are headed?

We met as a group ... and talked about the budget, talked about the issues. And obviously we're hearing as bad as we could have imagined, it's going to be worse. ... The total impact to education from that standpoint is undetermined because we don't know what percentage of the total cut if there's a reduction that education will hit. We know we make up about a third of the budget, but we don't know if we'll get a proportional third or if they'll work to hold us somewhat harmless or at least target certain programs to make strategic targeted cuts.

I know the House set up an education appropriations committee, which they didn't have last year. Is that possibly a good thing?

Yeah, I noticed it in the makeup that they split out the appropriations and the policy. They also split it out into K-12, higher ed and workforce. That can be good because you're focusing on those budgets. It can also be an issue, because you have leadership that are not having to work together on one committee but are working on their own committees and then have to bring it back to the body, so to speak, for approval. So it can become somewhat territorial, vs. looking at the entire system as they did last year prior to breaking it out.

How do you approach the leadership, then, knowing you have on one hand a group looking at policy where they might approve some idea and then on the other side you have appropriations where they might say there's no money for that idea?

Complying with class size

As the deadline for meeting the 2002 class-size reduction amendment nears, Pinellas leaders are taking steps to get schools ready. That means $144-million in classroom additions and portables, in order to have enough space for fewer students per class.

The biggest project: 33 new classrooms for Palm Harbor University High. The most new portables go to Blanton Elementary, which will get 10.

To see the latest Times story on this issue, click here. For more Gradebook coverage on the class-size amendment, click here.

(Image of Blanton Elementary, 2005, from Florida Aerial Services)

*

Class-size on thin ice?

As we frequently reported during the legislative session, many education groups and a growing number of lawmakers want to see the expensive and inflexible class-size amendment scaled back.

The best they could get in the spring was a one-year implementation delay. The Senate just didn't want to go along with a more permanent House plan, and amendment supporters cried foul any attempt to "undermine" the will of the people.

With the economy in shambles, though, the Senate is looking more likely to bend than ever before, the Orlando Sentinel reports today. "During this time of historic revenue shortfall, we should look for every opportunity to provide school districts with flexibility in class size," Senate K-12 education chairman Don Gaetz, told the paper.

Class size changes on the way

Before the House went into meltdown mode over an FCAT bill this morning, members unanimously approved a bill that would modify the way the state implements the 2002 class-size amendment.

Crafted by Rep. David Simmons, who has tried for years to scale back the voter mandate's financial effect, the measure also has won support from several education organizations including the Florida Education Association, the Florida School Boards Association and the state PTA.

If ultimately adopted by the Senate and signed by the governor, the bill would retain the class-size counts as required by the amendment. But it would offer flexibility to schools, so they would not have to realign classes every time a newly enrolled student pushes a classroom over the cap (18 in kindergarten through grade 3, 22 in grades 4-8, and 25 in high schools).

Tax reform commission steers clear of class-size changes

If changes are in store for Florida's class-size amendment, they're not coming from the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. The panel today decided not to move ahead with a proposal that would have asked voters to scale back the class-size reduction rules they approved six years ago.

The issue was up for reconsideration after the commission last week defeated the idea but left room for another vote if a compromise could have been reached in the meantime. That didn't happen.

That leaves it to the Legislature to find ways to deal with the costs and other concerns that the amendment has sparked among school district leaders around the state. So far, the House and Senate have different ideas in play, but key lawmakers have said they'll find a compromise before the end of session. The most likely scenario, insiders say, is a two-year delay in implementing classroom counts, saving about $600-million each year.

In other TBRC action, the commission agreed to ask voters to reconsider the "no-aid" amendment that has been used to justify banning state money from going to religious schools (vouchers, okay, we said it), our sister blog the Buzz reports.

Honor the "will of the people"

While still serving in the Florida Legislature, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami spent a lot of political capital pushing the state's 2002 class size reduction amendment to narrow passage. Then he headed off to D.C. and didn't have much to say as state lawmakers tried unsuccessfully to tinker with the mandate.

Now that it looks as if the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission might put the issue back before voters, Meek is back trying to convince that panel to leave the amendment alone. The commission, which meets every 20 years and can set ballot questions without the Legislature or petitions, defeated a proposal to ask voters to scale back the amendment earlier this week, but left the item open for a possible revote next week.

He sent a letter to commission chairman Alan Bense commending this  week's vote and suggesting it should stand:

The decision for children to learn in smaller classrooms was already made by Florida's voters in 2002 when they approved the Class Size Amendment. I hope you share my belief that the will of the people should be honored.

To read his full letter, click here.

Alternative class-size changes move ahead

Even the Democrats on the House Schools and Learning Council rose in support of a legislative "fix" to the 2002 class-size amendment today.

The change (PCB SLC 08-08) would maintain the limits on the numbers of students in a classroom, but it would deal with what Rep. Marty Kiar, D-Davie, called the "unintended consequences" of the voter mandate. Schools would be able to exceed the caps if additional students arrive at a school after the classes are set in the fall.

Marshall Ogletree, speaking for the Florida Education Association, deemed the bill a "great team effort" to maintain the class-size amendment but make it more feasible. "Nobody in education wants to disrupt students' lives," he said, noting the possible alternative that a school would have to break up classes once the dreaded "19th student" enrolls. (The amendment caps K-3 classes at 18 students, 4-8 classes at 22 and high school classes at 25.)

Bill sponsor David Simmons, R-Maitland, has tried for several years to come up with a way to blunt the financial impact of the amendment. "There is no reason for us to force ourselves into an absurd result that is detrimental to the students of this state," he said.

The council of five Democrats and 11 Republicans agreed unanimously. It's not clear if this bill will gain traction in the Senate, which has other ideas in mind. The Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, meanwhile, will reconsider whether to ask voters to scale back the class-size amendment next week.

Class-size proposal gets one more chance

A proposal to scale back the 2002 class-size amendment to school-wide averages, rather than classroom counts, almost died Monday at the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform meeting.

Almost.

Facing certain defeat with a 15-10 vote against putting the amendment to the amendment before voters in November, the concept got new life when former state Senate president Jim Scott changed his position at the last minute. Smith's move was tactical, the AP reports, in hopes of finding a compromise that all might accept.

The decision got pushed off to March 26.

Pickens urges class size amendment fix

Speaking before the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, Palatka Rep. Joe Pickens urged the members to put before voters a constitutional amendment that would address what critics say are unreasonable, unflexible standards for the state's previously approved class size amendment.

"I'm not here saying we can't afford it, but I think we shouldn't afford. it," said the Republican, pointman on education issues in his chamber. "I think we could spend the money giving teachers higher salaries."

He asked the commission to "ask the voters...for something much more practical, and much more reasonable."

Meanwhile, House Rep. David Simmons' committee just put together proposed legislation to make the class size calculations more flexible.

Moore predicts defeat for voucher, class size proposals

Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association executive director Jade Moore (left) is one of the few Democrats sitting on the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. He acknowledges he doesn't hold the majority view on many of the issues coming before the group. But after 30 or so years in the world of Florida education and government, he certainly has a well-honed nose for politics.

And his sense is that many of the education-related measures moving through the commission will not make it to the voters, despite making their way out of committee.

A proposal to allow public money to pay for private schooling "is limping through the subcommittees ... as a courtesy to the sponsor," Moore said. But "it's not going to go anywhere," he added, noting that the commission wants to put no more than eight items on the ballot and that it has bigger fish to fry (read: tax reform) than this idea.

He suggested a proposal to scale back the class-size amendment has "more legs than the voucher thing," but predicted getting 17 needed votes from the commission could be tough. "I think the (no) votes will materialize in the full commission," Moore said. "If not, it's going to go to the voters (where) it's going to go down."

Polls have shown growing support for reduced class sizes, suggesting a lack of interest in changing the rules.

The commission is scheduled to take up the class size proposal on March 17. The commission also scheduled to discuss proposals that would change the way the state funds education, depending more on sales taxes and less on property taxes. You can see the agenda here.

Moving right along

While lawmakers kick around their proposals to make the class-size amendment less onerous - the House wants to create flexibility through an "emergency" circumstances provision, while the Senate is looking at delaying implementation a year - the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission is pressing ahead with the fix that many in the Legislature prefer but can't accomplish, a referendum asking voters to abandon classroom counts for school-wide averages instead.

The commission's proposal won approval at its second committee this week, and with a wider margin than it received at its first stop. Just one member of the Planning and Budgetary Processes Committee, Pinellas teachers union leader Jade Moore (right), opposed the idea, which seven other members supported. The Governmental Services Committee gave the concept a narrower 5-3 blessing.

That means the proposed referendum already has 12 supporters of the 17 it needs to make its way to the November ballot. The full commission could take up the measure as early as March 17.

A second proposal, one that has drawn attention as the voucher amendment, also won support this week from the Planning and Budgetary Processes Committee and is on its way to the full panel, too. This measure would amend the constitution to allow Floridians to receive publicly-funded services including schooling from private providers. Moore and former House member Carlos Lacasa of Miami provided the no votes.

The commission, which meets every 20 years, must complete its work by May 4. Stay tuned.

Promoting the ABCs

No, that's not a plug for the alphabet.

State Sen. Lee Constantine, the Altamonte Springs Republican who once headed the Senate Education Committee, is pushing to see more school districts take advantage of his A Business-Community school program, which took effect with the class-size reduction implementation law.

The program allows Florida businesses to provide K-3 classroom space for the children of parents who work for the company, if the numbers warrant a teacher. The closest public school would monitor the program and hire the teacher.

Constantine likes the possible benefits - limited need for day care and eased burden on existing schools among them - and plans to encourage more companies and districts (which are required to have someone on staff available to coordinate the initiative) to take advantage.

"They really haven't pushed the opportunity, and I think it's such a shame," Constantine told the Gradebook.  "I'm trying to find people to take a risk on what I think is a sure thing."

Class-size changes move ahead

A committee of the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission today narrowly approved a measure that would ask voters to amend the class-size amendment, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

The proposal would stop the class-size limits at a school average - where they are currently - rather than moving them to classroom counts, as the amendment ultimately requires by 2010-11. A recent St. Petersburg Times poll indicates that Florida voters might not look too kindly on that change, which groups including the Florida Education Association have opposed.

The concept next moves to the full TBRC, where it must receive at least 17 votes of the 25-member board to go before voters. The group, which meets once every 20 years, can put measures on the ballot without legislative approval or voter petitions. It must make its ballot recommendations by May.