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Current Status Bill Number:View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.3593 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19990223 Primary Sponsor:J. Smith All Sponsors:J. Smith, Cobb-Hunter and Jennings Drafted Document Number:l:\council\bills\nbd\11139std99.doc Residing Body:House Current Committee:Education and Public Works Committee 21 HEPW Subject:School districts, pupil-teacher ratios in grades K-3 of 19:1 and 17:1 by school year 2000; Students History Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ ______________________________________ _______ ____________ House 19990223 Introduced, read first time, 21 HEPW referred to Committee Versions of This Bill
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-67 SO AS TO REQUIRE PUPIL-TEACHER RATIOS IN GRADES K-3 OF 19:1 BEGINNING WITH SCHOOL YEAR 1999 AND 17:1 BY SCHOOL YEAR 2000, TO AMEND SECTION 59-20-40, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO ALLOCATIONS UNDER THE EDUCATION FINANCE ACT AND REQUIRED PUPIL-TEACHER RATIOS IN GRADES 1-3 SO AS TO CONFORM THESE RATIOS TO THE ABOVE PROVISIONS, 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.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-63-67. (A) By school year 2000, the board of trustees of each school district must attain an average pupil-teacher ratio in kindergarten through grade three of each school in the district of seventeen to one based on average daily membership in the particular grades. The ratio must be attained as follows:
(1) by school year 1999 - 19:1;
(2) by school year 2000 - 17:1.
(B) The State Board of Education is authorized to waive the provisions of subsection (A) 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.
(C) Beginning with school year 2001, a school district violating the pupil-teacher ratio provisions of subsection (A) 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 having grades K-3 of the district in the aggregate has to the required pupil-teacher ratios mandated in this subsection (A).
(D) The provisions of this section are supplemental to the provision of Section 59-63-65."
SECTION 2. Section 59-20-40(5) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 497 of 1994, is further amended to read:
"(5) To qualify for funds provided in this chapter, each district must attain an average pupil-teacher ratio based on average daily membership in the basic skills of reading and mathematics in grades one through three of 21:1 as required in Section 59-63-67.
Provided, That any local district may apply to the State Board of Education for approval of a waiver to this subsection by submitting and justifying an alternative educational program to serve the basic skill needs of average daily membership in grades one through three.
The State Board of Education shall approve or disapprove of such waiver forty-five days after receipt of such application. Provided, Further, That beginning with Fiscal Year 1978-79, if a school district violates the provisions of this subsection, the state aid for the ensuing fiscal year to such school district shall be reduced by the percentage variance that the actual pupil-teacher ratios in such school district has to the required pupil-teacher ratios mandated in this Subsection.
Provided, That notwithstanding the provisions of this Section, the State Board of Education is authorized to waive the pupil-teacher requirements specified herein upon a finding that a good faith effort is being made by the school district concerned to comply with the ratio provisions but that for lack of classroom space which was beyond its control it is physically impossible for the district to comply for the Fiscal Years 1978-1979 and 1979-1980 and the cost of temporary classroom space cannot be justified.
It is the intent of the General Assembly that the average daily membership pupil-teacher ratio for grades 1 through 3 stipulated in the chapter be implemented to the extent possible on an individual class basis and that the pupil enrollment in these grades should not exceed twenty-eight pupils in each class."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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