H.C.R. 1

1

RESOLUTION PROMOTING MODERATELY
2 SIZED SCHOOLS
3 2005 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: David N. Cox
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor encourages more
10 moderately sized, simple, community-based neighborhood schools.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This resolution:
13 . encourages local school boards, to the extent feasible, to build more moderately
14 sized, simple, community-based neighborhood schools; and
15 . urges the State Office of Education to foster research on innovative ways to create
16 smaller schools.
17 Special Clauses:
18 None
19
20 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
21 WHEREAS, research indicates that smaller school size is the second most important
22 factor in creating positive educational outcomes, after socioeconomic status;
23 WHEREAS, large schools are expensive to individuals, their communities, and the
24 nation because there are many hidden transportation and security costs;
25 WHEREAS, there are also higher costs per graduate, as well as societal costs for
26 increased crime rates;
27 WHEREAS, smaller school size promotes learning and improves grades and test scores

28 of students, especially minorities and low-income students;
29 WHEREAS, research shows that school dropout rates decrease in smaller schools;
30 WHEREAS, student behavioral problems, including truancy, classroom disruption,
31 vandalism, aggression, theft, alcohol and substance abuse, and gang participation, occur more
32 often in larger schools;
33 WHEREAS, creating smaller schools and smaller learning communities within larger
34 schools promotes school safety;
35 WHEREAS, smaller schools, including schools with wider grade configurations, reduce
36 the feeling of isolation, allow students to form closer relationships with teachers, and create a
37 sense of student loyalty to and pride in the school;
38 WHEREAS, researchers have concluded that the first step in ending secondary school
39 violence is to break through the impersonal atmosphere of large secondary schools by creating
40 smaller learning communities within large schools;
41 WHEREAS, research demonstrates that students who attend smaller schools are more
42 likely to participate in extracurricular activities and to participate in a greater variety of
43 extracurricular activities;
44 WHEREAS, large schools contribute to negative teacher attitudes and low staff morale;
45 and
46 WHEREAS, smaller schools can be established in a cost-effective manner, as the sheer
47 size of larger schools requires more administrative support:
48 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
49 Governor concurring therein, encourage local school boards, to the extent feasible, to build
50 more moderately sized, simple, community-based neighborhood schools.
51 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge the State
52 Office of Education to foster the spread of research for furthering innovative ways of creating
53 smaller schools.
54 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to each school
55 board in the state of Utah, the Utah State Board of Education, and the Utah State Office of
56 Education.

Legislative Review Note
as of 12-3-04 12:19 PM

Based on a limited legal review, this legislation has not been determined to have a high
probability of being held unconstitutional.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel