Bill would provide federal funds to help states trim class sizes
By STEPHEN HEGARTY
Published December 9, 2003
After leading the successful campaign to have smaller class sizes written into the Florida Constitution, Kendrick Meek is trying to get federal money to help pay for it.
Meek, now a U.S. representative, filed a bill Monday that would provide up to $200-million in federal matching grants to pay for class size reduction.
The proposal clearly is designed to put more pressure on state officials and lawmakers to implement the class size amendment. Several lawmakers, Gov. Jeb Bush and Education Commissioner Jim Horne have claimed that the state cannot afford to honor the amendment approved by Florida voters last year. Some have proposed asking voters to repeal the amendment.
Meek is scheduled to meet with several state education officials, including Horne, today to drum up support for his bill.
"My bill will provide a strong incentive for the governor and the Legislature to do their jobs," Meek said. He accused lawmakers and the governor of "shirking their responsibilities" and of "strong-arming education organizations and otherwise carrying out Gov. Bush's "devious plan' to deny the right to smaller class sizes that is guaranteed by the Florida Constitution."
Horne's spokeswoman confirmed Monday that the commissioner would meet with the congressman.
"They have some differences of opinion on class size (reduction)," said spokeswoman Frances Marine. "But the commissioner is happy to meet with a member of our legislative delegation."
The vote last year, in which 52 percent of the state's voters supported smaller class sizes, did little to end the debate. Just last week in Tampa, Jim Warford, chancellor of K-12 education in Florida, told a statewide gathering of school board members the amendment was a "sledgehammer" that would be a unmanageable burden on the state. Sen. Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, got a warmer reception when he spoke to the same group and said the state should find a way to carry out the will of the voters.
After the speeches, the school board members voted 66-14 to support the amendment.
Meek's bill clearly was written with his home state in mind. To qualify, states would have to cap classes at the same levels spelled out in the state Constitution. That means no more than 18 kids in prekindergarten through third grade, 22 in fourth through eighth grades, and 25 in high school.
The estimated cost of the class size amendment is anywhere from $8-billion to $27.5-billion over the eight-year phase-in period. This budget year, lawmakers claimed they set aside about $1-billion as a start. Meek's bill is intended to provide a 50 percent match. That means that if the state puts up $400-million, the federal government will put up $200-million.
