FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
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JIM HORNE
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
SALLY BRADSHAW
LINDA J. EADS, ED.D.
CHARLES PATRICK GARCÍA
JULIA L. JOHNSON
WILLIAM L. PROCTOR, PH.D.
July 11, 2003
To:
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School District Superintendents
From:
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Jim Horne
Subject:
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Implementation of Class Size Reduction Requirements
- Baseline Data for Schools and Individual Classrooms
- Use of Federal Funds for Class Size Reduction
This memorandum provides additional information regarding the implementation of the Class
Size Reduction requirements. It is part of a series of memoranda that have been and will
continue to be provided by the Department to assist districts in the implementation of the Class
Size Reduction requirements. All Department information related to this subject can be
accessed at www.fldoe.org.
Baseline Data for Schools and Individual Classrooms
A June 11, 2003, memorandum provided the 2003 Baseline District Class Size Averages.
Attachment 1 is another copy of the baseline data with each district’s targeted reduction
requirements for 2003-2004. These data will be used to determine compliance for each district
beginning in October 2003. District compliance will be based upon district class size averages in
2003-2004, 2004-2005, and 2005-2006, and on school class size averages in 2006-2007 and
2007-2008. In 2008-2009 and thereafter, compliance will be determined at the individual
classroom level. As a result of this sequential implementation schedule, it is important that
current budget and program decisions on the best
and ongoing analyses of class size averages to
class size maximums.
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0505 • www.fldoe.org
MEMORANDUM
School District Superintendents
July 11, 2003
Page Two
To facilitate these analyses, Attachment 2 is provided listing all reports currently available for
district access through the Northwest Regional Data Center. The reports contain student,
teacher, and facility data used to calculate district class size averages. The reports provide useful
information on class size averages by school and total unduplicated student counts for each
classroom by school and grade category. Each district’s MIS staff worked closely with
Department MIS staff in the reporting and analyses of these data for the calculation of the 2003
Baseline District Class Size Averages.
Use of Federal Funds for Class Size Reduction
The 2003 Baseline District Class Size Averages include classroom teachers funded by federal
dollars. Several districts expressed concern that this would result in noncompliance findings
with the “supplement not supplant requirement” for federal education grants. The inclusion of
classroom teachers funded by federal dollars in the calculation of class size averages is not the
determinant for noncompliance with the supplement not supplant requirement.
To address this concern and provide guidance for districts, a memorandum (regarding the use of
federal funds for class size reduction) was distributed and discussed at the June conference for
the Florida School Finance Officers Association. Attachment 3 is a copy of this memorandum.
The memorandum was prepared by Mr. Leigh M. Manasevit, a partner in the law firm of
Brustein & Manasevit. The firm represents the Florida Department of Education regarding
federal funding issues with the U.S. Department of Education. Mr. Manasevit was asked to
address the “supplement not supplant requirement” for federal education grant funds as it relates
to implementation of the Class Size Reduction Amendment. Using the guidance specified in the
memorandum, each district is encouraged to analyze and evaluate its situation and circumstances
to determine how and when federal funds may be used for class size reduction purposes.
If you have additional questions regarding the implementation of the Class Size Reduction
requirements, please contact Jeanine Blomberg, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Accountability,
Research and Measurement at (850) 245-0437, or Jeanine.Blomberg@fldoe.org.
JH/JB
Attachments (3)
cc:
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Florida School District Board Chairpersons
School District
Finance Officers
MIS Coordinators
Facilities Planners