Current Status Bill Number:1115 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:Senate Introduced Date:19980312 Primary Sponsor:Education Committee SED 04 All Sponsors:Education Committee Drafted Document Number:gjk\21329sd.98 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Ways and Means Committee 30 HWM Date of Last Amendment:19980319 Subject:School districts, reduction in class size; kindergartens and elementary grades, eligible for state funding
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________
House 19980421 Referred to Committee 30 HWM
House 19980421 Recalled from Committee 21 HEPW
House 19980324 Introduced, read first time, 21 HEPW
referred to Committee
Senate 19980319 Amended, read third time,
sent to House
Senate 19980318 Amended, read second time,
ordered to third reading
with notice of general amendments,
carrying over all amendments
to third reading
Senate 19980312 Introduced, read first time,
placed on Calendar without reference
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AS PASSED BY THE SENATE
March 19, 1998
S. 1115
S. Printed 3/19/98--S.
Read the first time March 12, 1998.
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-65 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHICH CHOOSE TO REDUCE CLASS SIZE IN FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS AND IN GRADES ONE THROUGH THREE SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR CERTAIN STATE FUNDING, TO PROVIDE FOR A LOCAL MATCH REQUIREMENT, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ABOVE PROVISIONS.
Amend Title To Conform
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. 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. School districts which choose to reduce class size to fifteen to one in full-day kindergarten programs and 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. 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 basis.
Funding for the lower pupil ratios shall be provided as follows:
(1) beginning with school year 1998-99, for kindergarten;
(2) beginning with school year 1999-2000, for grade one;
(3) beginning with school year 2000-2001, for grade two;
(4) beginning with school year 2001-2002, for grade three.
The pupil-teacher ratio in this section shall be based on average daily membership in each grade; however, it is the intent of the General Assembly that this ratio be implemented as much as possible on a school and class basis. District boards of trustees implementing the reduced ratios on a school by school basis shall 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 shall 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.
School districts which are certified by the State Board of Education as unable to implement the reduced class size due to the lack of available facilities shall be eligible for funding for an aide for classes in kindergarten through grade three in which the pupil-teacher ratio exceeds twenty-two pupils in average daily membership. Funding for aides will be available only for school years 1998-99 and 1999-2000 on the same basis as that for the reduced ratio. School district boards of trustees choosing to implement the use of aides must provide an on-going program of staff development for the aides. State funds for classroom aides must be used to supplement existing aides and may not supplant current local support for aides.
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."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.