H.B. 318 Enrolled

1

CLASSROOM SIZE REVISIONS
2 2013 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Rebecca P. Edwards
5 Senate Sponsor: Howard A. Stephenson
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies provisions relating to a program to reduce class size.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 . requires a school district or charter school to submit a plan for, and a report on, the
13 use of class size reduction money to qualify for the school district's or charter
14 school's allocation of class size reduction money;
15 . specifies information to be included in a plan for, and a report on, the use of class
16 size reduction money;
17 . requires a school district or charter school to submit information on the use of K-3
18 Reading Improvement Program money and Title I money to employ teachers; and
19 . requires the State Board of Education to make an annual report to the Education
20 Interim Committee.
21 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
22 None
23 Other Special Clauses:
24 None
25 Utah Code Sections Affected:
26 AMENDS:
27 53A-17a-124.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 3
28
29 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:

30 Section 1. Section 53A-17a-124.5 is amended to read:
31 53A-17a-124.5. Appropriation for class size reduction.
32 (1) Money appropriated to the State Board of Education for class size reduction shall
33 be used to reduce the average class size in kindergarten through the eighth grade in the state's
34 public schools.
35 (2) Each district or charter school shall receive its allocation based upon prior year
36 average daily membership in kindergarten through grade [eight] 8 plus growth as determined
37 under Subsection 53A-17a-106 (3) as compared to the [state] total prior year average daily
38 membership in kindergarten through grade 8 plus growth of school districts and charter schools
39 that qualify for an allocation pursuant to Subsection (8).
40 (3) (a) A district may use its allocation to reduce class size in any one or all of the
41 grades referred to under this section, except as otherwise provided in Subsection (3)(b).
42 (b) (i) Each district or charter school shall use 50% of its allocation to reduce class size
43 in any one or all of grades kindergarten through grade [two] 2, with an emphasis on improving
44 student reading skills.
45 (ii) If a district's or charter school's average class size is below 18 in grades
46 kindergarten through [two] grade 2, it may petition the state board for, and the state board may
47 grant, a waiver to use its allocation under Subsection (3)(b)(i) for class size reduction in the
48 other grades.
49 (4) Schools may use nontraditional innovative and creative methods to reduce class
50 sizes with this appropriation and may use part of their allocation to focus on class size
51 reduction for specific groups, such as at risk students, or for specific blocks of time during the
52 school day.
53 (5) (a) A school district or charter school may use up to 20% of its allocation under
54 Subsection (1) for capital facilities projects if such projects would help to reduce class size.
55 (b) If a school district's or charter school's student population increases by 5% or 700
56 students from the previous school year, the school district or charter school may use up to 50%
57 of any allocation it receives under this section for classroom construction.

58 (6) This appropriation is to supplement any other appropriation made for class size
59 reduction.
60 (7) The Legislature shall provide for an annual adjustment in the appropriation
61 authorized under this section in proportion to the increase in the number of students in the state
62 in kindergarten through grade eight.
63 (8) (a) To qualify for class size reduction money, a school district or charter school
64 shall submit:
65 (i) a plan for the use of the school district's or charter school's allocation of class size
66 reduction money to the State Board of Education; and
67 (ii) beginning with the 2014-15 school year, a report on the school district's or charter
68 school's use of class size reduction money in the prior school year.
69 (b) The plan and report required pursuant to Subsection (8)(a) shall include the
70 following information:
71 (i) (A) the number of teachers employed using class size reduction money;
72 (B) the amount of class size reduction money expended for teachers; and
73 (C) if supplemental school district or charter school funds are expended to pay for
74 teachers employed using class size reduction money, the amount of the supplemental money;
75 (ii) (A) the number of paraprofessionals employed using class size reduction money;
76 (B) the amount of class size reduction money expended for paraprofessionals; and
77 (C) if supplemental school district or charter school funds are expended to pay for
78 paraprofessionals employed using class size reduction money, the amount of the supplemental
79 money; and
80 (iii) the amount of class size reduction money expended for capital facilities.
81 (c) In addition to submitting a plan and report on the use of class size reduction money,
82 a school district or charter school shall annually submit a report to the State Board of Education
83 that includes the following information:
84 (i) the number of teachers employed using K-3 Reading Improvement Program money
85 received pursuant to Sections 53A-17a-150 and 53A-17a-151 ;

86 (ii) the amount of K-3 Reading Improvement Program money expended for teachers;
87 (iii) the number of teachers employed in kindergarten through grade 8 using Title I
88 money;
89 (iv) the amount of Title I money expended for teachers in kindergarten through grade
90 8; and
91 (v) a comparison of actual average class size by grade in grades kindergarten through 8
92 in the school district or charter school with what the average class size would be without the
93 expenditure of class size reduction, K-3 Reading Improvement Program, and Title I money.
94 (d) The information required to be reported in Subsections (8)(b)(i)(A) through (C),
95 (8)(b)(ii)(A) through (C), and (8)(c) shall be categorized by a teacher's or paraprofessional's
96 teaching assignment, such as the grade level, course, or subject taught.
97 (e) The State Board of Education may make rules specifying procedures and standards
98 for the submission of:
99 (i) a plan and a report on the use of class size reduction money as required by this
100 section; and
101 (ii) a report required under Subsection (8)(c).
102 (f) Based on the data contained in the class size reduction plans and reports submitted
103 by school districts and charter schools, and data on average class size, the State Board of
104 Education shall annually report to the Education Interim Committee on the impact of class size
105 reduction, K-3 Reading Improvement Program, and Title I money on class size.

[Bill Documents]