Reference is to Printer's Date 02/28/19-H.
Amend the bill, as and if amended, PART IV, Enhancements to Workforce Preparation, by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION at the end to read:
/ SECTION ___. Section 59-63-65 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 59-63-65.
School districts which choose to reduce class size
to fifteen to one in grades one through three shall be eligible
for funding for the reduced pupil-teacher ratios from funds
provided by the General Assembly for this purpose. Funding for
schools in districts designated as impaired or for schools rated
as unsatisfactory on the accountability ratings will receive
priority in the distribution of funds. Funding for the impaired
district schools and schools ranked unsatisfactory will be
allocated based on the average daily membership in grades one
through three in those schools for implementing reduced class
size of fifteen to one in those grades. Other school districts
will receive funding allocated based on free and reduced lunch
eligible students. Local match is required for the lower ratio
funding based on the Education Finance Act formula. Boards of
trustees of each school district may implement the lower
pupil-teacher ratios on a school by school, grade by grade, or
class by class basis. District boards of trustees implementing
the reduced ratios must establish policies to give priority to
reduce the ratios in schools with the highest number of students
eligible for the federal free and reduced lunch program, and
these students must be given priority in implementing the
reduced class size. Unobligated funds from state appropriations
which become available to a district during a fiscal year shall
be redistributed to fund additional teachers on a prorated
basis.
Districts choosing to
implement the reduced class size must track the students served
in classes with a 15:1 ratio for three years so that the impact
of smaller class size can be evaluated. The Department of
Education, working with the Accountability Division, will
develop a plan for evaluating the impact of this initiative and
report to the Education Oversight Committee no later than
December 1, 2001. School districts must document the use of
these funds to reduce class size and the State Department of
Education will conduct audits to confirm appropriate use of
class size reduction funding. (A)(1)
Beginning with the 2020-2021 School Year, the maximum
pupil-teacher ratio in a public school classroom must be:
(a)
seventeen to one in elementary school;
(b)
twenty-five to one in middle school and high
school.
(2)
The maximum pupil-teacher ratios provided in
item (1) do not apply to physical education classes and band
classes.
(B) As used
in this section, 'teacher' refers to an employee possessing a
professional certificate issued by the State Department of
Education whose full-time responsibility is instruction of
students. Pupil-teacher ratio is based on average daily
membership.
(C) Portable or
other temporary classroom space may be used to meet any
facilities needs for reducing class size to fifteen to one, and
notwithstanding the provisions of Section 59-144-30, funding
derived from the Children's Education Endowment Fund may be used
to acquire such portable or temporary facilities." /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.