This report documents the extraordinary crisis facing Florida's public schools and provides evidence that Amendment 9--a proposed constitutional amendment to reduce class sizes--is a cost-effective and invaluable first step to rebuilding its troubled public schools. The report also sets the record straight about the long-term benefits of investing in class size reduction. The report examines the evidence that Florida's public schools rank near the bottom of the nation on many indicators and documents that state leaders have failed Florida's schoolchildren. It also examines the overwhelming evidence that class size reduction is both an effective and a cost-effective approach to improving student achievement. The report disputes the assertions made by Governor Jeb Bush and his administration that that the state cannot afford to reduce class sizes, claiming that the governor is mounting a dishonest campaign based on distortion and fear tactics. Appendix A contains selected resources on class size. Appendix B contains the text of Florida's Amendment to Reduce Class Size. (Contains 135 endnotes.) [This document was also produced by Florida's Coalition to Reduce Class Size.]