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S.B. 31

This document includes Senate 2nd Reading Floor Amendments incorporated into the bill on Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 3:42 PM by khelgesen. -->             


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Senate 2nd Reading Amendments 2-2-2012 kh/aos
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CLASSROOM SIZE AMENDMENTS

             2     
2012 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Karen W. Morgan

             5     
House Sponsor: Rebecca P. Edwards

             6     

             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill imposes a maximum class size for kindergarten through grade 3.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    limits the number of students who may be assigned to a teacher who teaches a core
             13      curriculum course in kindergarten through grade 3, unless a paraprofessional is
             14      assigned to the teacher's class for the duration of the core curriculum course; S. [ and ] .S
             15          .    establishes qualifications for a paraprofessional assigned to a class that exceeds the
             16      maximum class size requirement S. [ . ] ; and
             16a          . provides that a school district or charter school is eligible to receive money
             16b      appropriated for class size reduction, if the school district or charter school complies with
             16c      requirements to limit class size in kindergarten through grade 3 or assign a paraprofessional to
             16d      a class that exceeds the maximum class size. .S
             17      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             18          None
             19      Other Special Clauses:
             20          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2012.
             21      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             21a          S. AMENDS:
             21b              53A-17a-124.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 3 .S
             22      ENACTS:
             23          53A-15-106, Utah Code Annotated 1953


            
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             25      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             26          Section 1. Section 53A-15-106 is enacted to read:
             27          53A-15-106. Maximum class size in kindergarten through grade 3 -- Exception --



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     Qualifications of a paraprofessional assigned to a class that exceeds the maximum class
             29      size.
             30          (1) As used in this section:
             31          (a) "Core curriculum course" means a language arts, mathematics, science, or social
             32      studies course.
             33          (b) "Direct supervision of a licensed teacher" means the teacher:
             34          (i) prepares the lesson and plans the instructional support activities the paraprofessional
             35      carries out; and
             36          (ii) evaluates the achievement of the students with whom the paraprofessional works.
             37          (c) "Paraprofessional" means an individual who:
             38          (i) works under the direct supervision of a licensed teacher; and
             39          (ii) meets the qualifications established in Subsection (4).
             40          (2) Except as provided in Subsection (3), the maximum number of students assigned to
             41      a teacher who is teaching a core curriculum course may not exceed:
             42          (a) S. [ 18 ] 20 .S students for a kindergarten class, beginning with the 2012-13 school
             42a      year;
             43          (b) S. [ 20 ] 22 .S students for a first grade class, beginning with the 2013-14 school year;
             44          (c) 22 students for a second grade class, beginning with the 2014-15 school year; and
             45          (d) 24 students for a third grade class, beginning with the 2015-16 school year.
             46          (3) The number of students assigned to a teacher who is teaching a core curriculum
             47      course may exceed the maximum class size specified in Subsection (2) if a paraprofessional is
             48      assigned to the class for the entire duration of the core curriculum course.
             49          (4) A paraprofessional who is assigned to a class pursuant to Subsection (3) shall have:
             50          (a) (i) earned a secondary school diploma or a recognized equivalent; and
             51          (ii) (A) completed at least two years with a minimum of 48 semester hours at an
             52      accredited higher education institution; or
             53          (B) obtained an associates or higher degree from an accredited higher education
             54      institution; or
             55          (b) satisfied a rigorous state or local assessment about the individual's knowledge of,
             56      and ability to assist in instructing students in, reading, writing, and mathematics.
             56a      S. Section 2. Section 53A-17A-124.5 is amended to read:
             56b           53A-17a-124.5.   Appropriation for class size reduction.
             56c          (1) Money appropriated to the State Board of Education for class size reduction shall be used
             56d      to reduce the average class size in kindergarten through the eighth grade in the state's public schools.
             56e           (2) (a) A school district or charter school is eligible to receive money
             56f      appropriated under Subsection (1), if the school district or charter school complies with the
             56g      requirements in Section 53A-15-106 to limit class size in kindergarten through grade 3 or


            
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Senate 2nd Reading Amendments 2-2-2012 kh/aos
56h
     assign a paraprofessional to a class that exceeds the maximum class size.
             56i           [ (2) ] b Each district shall receive its allocation based upon prior year average daily
             56j      membership in kindergarten through grade [ eight ] 8 plus growth as determined under Subsection
             56k      53A-17a-106(3) as compared to the state total based on school districts and charter schools that are
             56l      eligible pursuant to Subsection (2)(a) .
             56m           (3) (a) A district or charter school may use its allocation to reduce class size in any one or all of
             56n      the grades referred to under this section, except as otherwise provided in Subsection (3)(b).
             56o          (b) (i) Each district and charter school shall use 50% of its allocation to reduce class size in
             56p      any one or all of grades kindergarten through grade [ two ] 2 , with an emphasis on improving
             56q      student reading skills.
             56r          (ii) If a district's or charter school's average class size is below 18 in grades kindergarten
             56s      through [ two ] 2 , it may petition the state board for, and the state board may grant, a waiver to use its
             56t      allocation under Subsection (3)(b)(i) for class size reduction in the other grades.
             56u          (4) Schools may use nontraditional innovative and creative methods to reduce class sizes with
             56v      this appropriation and may use part of their allocation to focus on class size reduction for specific
             56w      groups, such as at risk students, or for specific blocks of time during the school day.
             56x          (5) (a) A school district or charter school may use up to 20% of its allocation under Subsection
             56y      (1) for capital facilities projects if such projects would help to reduce class size.
             56z          (b) If a school district's or charter school's student population increases by 5% or 700 students
             56aa      from the previous school year, the school district or charter school may use up to 50% of any
             56ab      allocation it receives under this section for classroom construction.
             56ac          (6) This appropriation is to supplement any other appropriation made for class size reduction.
             56ad          (7) [ The ] Subject to future budget constraints, the Legislature shall provide for an annual
             56ae      adjustment in the appropriation authorized under this section in proportion to the increase in the
             56af      number of students in the state in kindergarten through grade eight. .S    
             57          Section S. [ 2 ] 3 .S . Effective date.
             58          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2012.



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Legislative Review Note
    as of 10-27-11 9:06 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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