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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.


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