Constitutional Amendment 8 - Class Size Reduction
Updated 11-18-10

11-18-10: Elementary Rezoning Meetings Announced

Florida Department of Education's website on the Class Size Reduction Amendment

District School Board of Collier County
Compliance Plan to Meet the Requirements of the Class Size Reduction Amendment

2009-10:
All schools in the District met the 2009-10 requirement based on school average for each of the grade groupings as described below. 

2010-11:
The current Class Size Reduction (CSR) requirement is:
Grades:           Maximum Class Size:
PreK – 3                      18
4 – 8                            22
9 – 12                          25

The District has further reduced class size by increasing 2009-10 instructional staffing by:

  • Assigning 19 teachers who had been resource teachers in elementary schools to classroom core teaching positions.
  • Adding an additional 19 elementary school classroom core teachers above regular allocation.
  • Adding the equivalent of 8 teachers at the middle school level.
  • Adding an additional 18 high school teachers.
  • Schools will continue to balance classes during the school year to adhere to the requirements of Amendment 8:  school average less than or equal to 18, 22 and 25 respectively and no class larger than 21, 27 and 30 respectively.
  • Schools will continue to balance classes during the school year to keep as close as possible to full compliance according to current wording of the Amendment.  Through November 2nd, that is: maximum of 18, 22 and 25 respectively. 

Constitutional Amendment 8 amends the Class Size Reduction Amendment to freeze the requirement at the 2009-10 level of school average of 18, 22 and 25, respectively, instead of requiring each and every core class to meet the maximum size requirement with the restriction that no PreK – 3 class can be over 21, no Grade 4 – 8 class can be over 27 and no Grade 9 – 12 class can be over 30.   Amendment 8 will be decided by the voters during the November 2010 general election.

If Amendment 8 Passes:

  • The District anticipates that it will continue to be fully compliant.  No further steps toward compliance will be necessary. 
  • It will be necessary to adhere to the requirements of Amendment 8 as new students enroll, which could mean closing classes, hiring new teachers, splitting classes, etc.

If Amendment 8 Does Not Pass:

  • During 2010-11:
    • Complete the rezoning of the elementary schools to allow for space in all schools for the additional teachers required to be added for full compliance.  The rezoning decision will be made in 2010-11; rezoning will be implemented in 2011-12.
    • Add teachers where possible trying to minimize disruption of students by assigning them to new schools, new teachers and/or new classes.
    • Pay the fine imposed by the Legislature.   The fine will be imposed based upon October data. So, balancing classes to meet these requirements throughout the fall is critically important. 
    • Recruit the estimated 150 - 200 additional teachers needed for full compliance in addition to the approximate 200 teachers needed annually for attrition.
    • Revise bus routes and times for the new elementary school bus zones.
  • 2011-12
    • Implement the new elementary school rezoning plan.
    • Assign and/or transfer teachers according to new staffing needs in all schools.
    • Use funds from the reserves to cover the approximate $12-15 million dollar cost for the additional teachers for Class Size Reduction.
    • As the reserves are only sufficient for one year of CSR funding, analyze the budget and make recommendations for continued funding for future years.  This may involve reductions in other programs.
    • Balance classes as new students enroll and adhere to class size restrictions.  Do not allow students in classes that are at the maximum size.  This means teachers would sometimes have to be hired during the year as new students enroll and classes split.  Some students would have to be reassigned to new teachers as the new classes are formed. 

Some Examples:

  • 2nd Grade at School A:
    • 75 Students
    • Current Requirement; Llimit of 18:   Need 5 classes ; Class Average: 15
    • Amendment 8:  Limit of 21:   Need 4 classes; Class Average:  18.75
  • 3rd Grade at School A:
    • 86 Students:  
    • Current Requirement:   Limit of 18:   5 classes; Class Average: 17.2
    • Amendment 8:  Limit of 21:   5 classes; Class average: 17.2
  • Honors Geometry at School B:
    • 54 Students
    • Current Requirement:  Limit of 25:  3 sections;   Class average of 18
    • *Amendment 8:  Limit of 30:  2 sections;   Class average of 27
  • English II at School B:
    • 400 Students
    • Current Requirement:  Limit of 25:  16 sections, average of 25; no room for growth; or
    • Current Requirement:  Limit of 25:  17 sections, average of 23.5;  room for growth
    • Amendment 8:  Limit of 30:  14 sections, average of 28.6, room for growth

Some strategies other districts are using in 2010-11 that Collier is not using:

  • Hire substitutes or temporary teachers on a lower pay scale to work through November 2nd and then, if the proposed Amendment 8 passes, let those substitutes go and reschedule students into other classes. 
  • Encourage early graduation.
  • Encourage Florida Virtual School or distance learning.
  • Team teach and double the size of classes:  up to 36, 44, 50.
  • Increase the number of secondary teachers teaching the extra period.
  • Combine grades in classes, e.g. put a 2nd grader in 1st or 3rd if no space in 2nd grade, combine sections of Eng. I & II or 6th & 7th grade math, etc.
  • Re-code core electives to non-core electives.
  • Assign new students to other schools outside of their school zone if no space in grade/class.