Fitch Releases Report on Rating Criteria for Florida's Public School Districts'...

NEW YORK -- Over the past several decades, an increasing number of young families have made their home in the State of Florida, leading to increased enrollment in the state's public school system. The growth has been driven by both interstate migration and immigration from foreign countries,

During the years 2000-2004, Florida's public school enrollment grew 8.3%, nearly equal to the state's 8.8% population growth over the same time period. This growth and the wide variety of financing vehicles available to address the resulting capital need sets Florida school districts apart from those in most other states.

The new Fitch report 'Focus on Florida School Districts: Rating Guidelines for Tax-Supported Debt' offers an overview of the rating criteria and methodology used by Fitch to analyze debt issued by public school districts in the State of Florida and is available on the Fitch Ratings web site at www.fitchratings.com.

Fitch's rating definitions are available on the agency's free of charge web site, www.fitchratings.com. Published ratings, criteria and methodologies, and relevant policies and procedures are also available from this site, at all times. This document will remain on the free site for seven days.