S 0838 General Bill, By Bryan, Branton, Short and Washington

Similar(H 4584)
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 59-63-65 SO AS TO REQUIRE CERTAIN PUPIL-TEACHER RATIOS IN GRADES K-6 OF 27:1
 BEGINNING WITH SCHOOL YEAR 1999 AND FULLY PHASED-IN AT 15:1 BY SCHOOL YEAR
 2004, TO PROVIDE FOR A WAIVER OF THESE RATIOS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AND TO
 PROVIDE FOR A REDUCTION OF STATE AID FOR ANY DISTRICT WHICH DOES NOT MEET
 THESE REQUIRED RATIOS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-20-40, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO
 THE DETERMINATION OF ANNUAL ALLOCATIONS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS UNDER THE
 EDUCATION FINANCE ACT, SO AS TO DELETE PROVISIONS RELATING TO REQUIRED
 PUPIL-TEACHER RATIOS IN GRADES 1-3 WHEN THE RATIOS REQUIRED ABOVE TAKE EFFECT.

   11/17/97  Senate Prefiled
   11/17/97  Senate Referred to Committee on Education
   01/14/98  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-7
   01/14/98  Senate Referred to Committee on Education SJ-7

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-65 SO AS TO REQUIRE CERTAIN PUPIL-TEACHER RATIOS IN GRADES K-6 OF 27:1 BEGINNING WITH SCHOOL YEAR 1999 AND FULLY PHASED-IN AT 15:1 BY SCHOOL YEAR 2004, TO PROVIDE FOR A WAIVER OF THESE RATIOS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR A REDUCTION OF STATE AID FOR ANY DISTRICT WHICH DOES NOT MEET THESE REQUIRED RATIOS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-20-40, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE DETERMINATION OF ANNUAL ALLOCATIONS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS UNDER THE EDUCATION FINANCE ACT, SO AS TO DELETE PROVISIONS RELATING TO REQUIRED PUPIL-TEACHER RATIOS IN GRADES 1-3 WHEN THE RATIOS REQUIRED ABOVE TAKE EFFECT.

Whereas, small class size has been shown by research to positively impact on student learning; and

Whereas, the maximum pupil-teacher ratio in kindergarten is thirty to one on a district-wide basis; and

Whereas, the maximum pupil-teacher ratio allowed in grades one through three is twenty-one to one in reading and mathematics and is thirty to one in other subjects on a district-wide basis; and

Whereas, the maximum pupil-teacher ratio in grades four through six is thirty to one in language arts and mathematics on a district-wide basis.

Now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-63-65. (A) By school year 2004, the board of trustees of each school district must attain an average pupil-teacher ratio in kindergarten of each school of fifteen to one based on average daily membership in kindergarten. The ratio must be attained as follows:

(1) by school year 1999 - 27:1;

(2) by school year 2000 - 24:1;

(3) by school year 2001 - 21:1;

(4) by school year 2002 - 19:1;

(5) by school year 2003 - 17:1;

(6) by school year 2004 - 15:1.

(B) By school year 2004, the board of trustees of each school district shall attain an average pupil-teacher ratio in grades one through three of each school of fifteen to one based on average daily membership in grades one through three. The ratio must be attained as follows:

(1) by school year 1999 - 27:1;

(2) by school year 2000 - 24:1;

(3) by school year 2001 - 21:1;

(4) by school year 2002 - 19:1;

(5) by school year 2003 - 17:1;

(6) by school year 2004 - 15:1.

(C) By school year 2004, the board of trustees of each school district shall attain an average pupil-teacher ratio in grades four through six of each school of twenty to one based on average daily membership in grades four though six. The ratio must be attained as follows:

(1) by school year 1999 - 27:1;

(2) by school year 2000 - 24:1;

(3) by school year 2001 - 21:1;

(4) by school year 2002 - 19:1;

(5) by school year 2003 - 17:1;

(6) by school year 2004 - 15:1.

(D) The State Board of Education is authorized to waive the provisions of this section upon finding that a good faith effort is being made by the school district to comply with the pupil-teacher ratio provisions in each school but that the lack of classroom space which was beyond its control makes it physically impossible for the district to comply by the school years required and the cost of temporary classroom space cannot be justified.

(E) Beginning with school year 2002, a school district violating the pupil-teacher ratio provisions of this section shall have its state aid for the ensuing school year reduced by the percentage variance that the actual pupil-teacher ratios in the various schools of the district in the aggregate has to the required pupil-teacher ratios mandated in this section."

SECTION 2. Item (5) of Section 59-20-40 of the 1976 Code is deleted effective July 1, 2001. The pupil-teacher ratios in grades one through three required by the provisions of item (5) of Section 59-20-40 of the 1976 Code continue to apply until July 1, 2001.

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.