Hillsborough County Meets Class-Size Requirements

News Report

Hillsborough County Public Schools has once again met all class-size requirements, according to a report from the Florida Department of Education.

Complying with class size requirements means the district will not be subject to financial penalties. 

All district charter schools also met state requirements, with most meeting constitutional class-by-class limits. Charter schools are allowed to meet schoolwide average limits.

Noncharter public schools must meet class-by-class limits in core classes defined by the state. The constitutional limits are 18 students in pre-kindergarten through third grade, 22 students in fourth through eighth grade, and 25 students in ninth through 12th grade.

In 2002 Florida voters approved an amendment to the Florida Constitution that requires that districts limit class sizes throughout the state. The requirements were phased in, with full implementation beginning last year.

This year, the Legislature gave school districts some relief from the strict class-by-class limits. Students who enroll after the October membership count may be placed in an existing core curricula classroom that temporarily exceeds the cap if the district determines it to be impractical, educationally unsound, or disruptive to learning not to do. The number of students over the cap may not exceed three in kindergarten through third grade and five in fourth through 12th grade. If a school meets the more flexible limits, the school board must develop a plan for the school to be in full compliance with class size maximums by the next October student membership survey.