First Substitute H.B. 318

Representative Rebecca P. Edwards proposes the following substitute bill:

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; and
17 . requires the State Board of Education to make an annual report to the Education
18 Interim Committee.
19 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
20 None
21 Other Special Clauses:
22 None
23 Utah Code Sections Affected:
24 AMENDS:
25 53A-17a-124.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 3

26
27 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
28 Section 1. Section 53A-17a-124.5 is amended to read:
29 53A-17a-124.5. Appropriation for class size reduction.
30 (1) Money appropriated to the State Board of Education for class size reduction shall
31 be used to reduce the average class size in kindergarten through the eighth grade in the state's
32 public schools.
33 (2) Each district or charter school shall receive its allocation based upon prior year
34 average daily membership in kindergarten through grade [eight] 8 plus growth as determined
35 under Subsection 53A-17a-106 (3) as compared to the [state] total prior year average daily
36 membership in kindergarten through grade 8 plus growth of school districts and charter schools
37 that qualify for an allocation pursuant to Subsection (8).
38 (3) (a) A district may use its allocation to reduce class size in any one or all of the
39 grades referred to under this section, except as otherwise provided in Subsection (3)(b).
40 (b) (i) Each district or charter school shall use 50% of its allocation to reduce class size
41 in any one or all of grades kindergarten through grade [two] 2, with an emphasis on improving
42 student reading skills.
43 (ii) If a district's or charter school's average class size is below 18 in grades
44 kindergarten through [two] grade 2, it may petition the state board for, and the state board may
45 grant, a waiver to use its allocation under Subsection (3)(b)(i) for class size reduction in the
46 other grades.
47 (4) Schools may use nontraditional innovative and creative methods to reduce class
48 sizes with this appropriation and may use part of their allocation to focus on class size
49 reduction for specific groups, such as at risk students, or for specific blocks of time during the
50 school day.
51 (5) (a) A school district or charter school may use up to 20% of its allocation under
52 Subsection (1) for capital facilities projects if such projects would help to reduce class size.
53 (b) If a school district's or charter school's student population increases by 5% or 700
54 students from the previous school year, the school district or charter school may use up to 50%
55 of any allocation it receives under this section for classroom construction.
56 (6) This appropriation is to supplement any other appropriation made for class size

57 reduction.
58 (7) The Legislature shall provide for an annual adjustment in the appropriation
59 authorized under this section in proportion to the increase in the number of students in the state
60 in kindergarten through grade eight.
61 (8) (a) To qualify for class size reduction money, a school district or charter school
62 shall submit:
63 (i) a plan for the use of the school district's or charter school's allocation of class size
64 reduction money to the State Board of Education; and
65 (ii) beginning with the 2014-15 school year, a report on the school district's or charter
66 school's use of class size reduction money in the prior school year.
67 (b) The plan and report required pursuant to Subsection (8)(a) shall include the
68 following information:
69 (i) (A) the number of teachers employed using class size reduction money;
70 (B) the amount of class size reduction money expended for teachers; and
71 (C) if supplemental school district or charter school funds are expended to pay for
72 teachers employed using class size reduction money, the amount of the supplemental money;
73 (ii) (A) the number of paraprofessionals employed using class size reduction money;
74 (B) the amount of class size reduction money expended for paraprofessionals; and
75 (C) if supplemental school district or charter school funds are expended to pay for
76 paraprofessionals employed using class size reduction money, the amount of the supplemental
77 money; and
78 (iii) the amount of class size reduction money expended for capital facilities.
79 (c) The information required to be reported in Subsections (8)(b)(i)(A) through (C) and
80 (8)(b)(ii)(A) through (C) shall be categorized by a teacher's or paraprofessional's teaching
81 assignment, such as the grade level, course, or subject taught.
82 (d) Based on the data contained in the class size reduction plans and reports submitted
83 by school districts and charter schools, and data on average class size, the State Board of
84 Education shall annually report to the Education Interim Committee on the impact of class size
85 reduction money on class size.

[Bill Documents]