Total Pageviews

Search This Blog

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

The Florida Legislature seeks to subvert the will of the people, increase class sizes

From the Orlando Sentinel

by Dave Weber

Class sizes in Florida public schools may be getting much larger again next fall despite voter-mandated restrictions that went into effect just this year.

Calculus, analytical geometry, anatomy, zoology, Spanish and dozens more of the toughest courses offered in high schools no longer would be considered "core" courses under a new interpretation of the class-size amendment to the state constitution that state lawmakers are pursuing.

Two-thirds of the 849 core classes offered in elementary, middle and high schools would be downgraded to "extra-curricular" status, which would allow unlimited numbers of students.

And basic reading, math and science courses still labeled "core" could exceed caps spelled out in the amendment approved by voters in 2002 and reaffirmed in a referendum last fall.

"That's one way to subvert the will of the people," said Kathleen Oropeza, an Orlando parent involved in a group called Fund Education Now that is pushing for more money for schools.

The amendment calls for strict class-size limits of 18 students in kindergarten through third grade, 22 in fourth through eighth, and 25 in high school. It also states that the restrictions "do not apply to extracurricular classes."

"There was too broad a definition of what is core curriculum," said Sen. David Simmons, R-Maitland, who drafted the changes embedded in House and Senate proposals for funding education next school year.

Those include allowing additional students in core classes "if the district school board determines it to be impractical, educationally unsound, or disruptive to student learning to not assign the students to the class."

Schools could add up to three more students in pre-kindergarten through third-grade classes and five more in upper grades, with the promise to correct the overload by the following school year.

Cuts anticipated

The Republican-controlled Legislature for years has sought to reduce costs of the class-size amendment, which has run to an additional $18.5 billion for extra teachers and related expenses since its passage in 2002, including $3 billion this year. Officials say the pending changes allow more options in the face of anticipated cuts in state funding.

Simmons says he is cleaning up interpretation of the amendment to make it more specific as to "what are the main ideas of an education." In his view those include only the most basic of courses.

School districts struggled last fall to meet enrollment caps class by class. Previously, class size was measured first against district-wide and later school-wide averages.

"We think this is really going to help us," said Bill Vogel, superintendent of Seminole County schools. "We project a savings of 20 teaching positions right off the bat."

Vogel said the public must take a "trust me" approach that freedom to put more students in classes will not be abused.

Mark Quintana, curriculum specialist for Broward County schools, said the district "absolutely welcomes" the changes.

"We do need a degree of flexibility," Quintana said. "Classes that are electives should have more students in them."

From core to elective

If lawmakers have their way, 561 courses that are now considered "core" would become electives.

Those courses include Latin; many foreign languages; statistics; trigonometry; marine biology; Florida history; economics; and many others.

Broward is among 35 school districts statewide that did not meet class-size restrictions this year and faces a fine of $3 million for noncompliance in 2,022 classrooms.

In Central Florida, only Orange County exceeded the caps, and only in a dozen classrooms.

Under the changes, core courses would include only language arts, reading, math and science in kindergarten through third grade; writing, reading, math and science in fourth through eighth grades; and in high-school courses measured by state tests or specifically required for graduation, such as algebra 1.

Shaune Storch, principal of Lake Howell High in Seminole, said she favors putting more students in classes including Advanced Placement because this year some students were shut out of courses such as AP chemistry when all 25 seats were taken.

"We are not talking putting 50 kids in there. Maybe 30 or 32," she said.

But Cade Resnick, who teaches Advanced Placement science at Lyman High in Seminole, said reduced class sizes brought "a much better year for connecting to students." He said AP students need smaller classes because they have a lot of questions and are more engaged in discussions.

Mark Pudlow, spokesman for the Florida Education Association, said the teachers union initially supported giving school districts flexibility in meeting class-size rules but the current proposal is "trying to hoodwink voters" who called for class-size restrictions.

"This is all about saving money," Pudlow said.

dweber@tribune.com or 407-883-7885

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/os-class-size-larger-040311-20110403,0,7738850.story

No comments:

Post a Comment