1     
CLASS SIZE REDUCTION AMENDMENTS

2     
2024 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Carol S. Moss

5     
Senate Sponsor: Kathleen A. Riebe

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill makes changes to the allocation of an existing appropriation for class size
10     reduction.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     ensures that funds are directed to school districts and charter schools with the
14     highest need;
15          ▸     requires an LEA that receives funding to provide a report;
16          ▸     adjusts which grades the funds may be used for; and
17          ▸     permits an adjustment for inflation.
18     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19          None
20     Other Special Clauses:
21          None
22     Utah Code Sections Affected:
23     AMENDS:
24          53F-2-312, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Sixth Special Session, Chapter 9
25     

26     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
27          Section 1. Section 53F-2-312 is amended to read:
28          53F-2-312. Appropriation for class size reduction.
29          (1) Money appropriated to the state board for class size reduction shall be used to
30     reduce the average class size in kindergarten through grade [8] 3 in the state's public schools.
31          (2) A school district or charter school [shall] may receive an allocation for class size
32     reduction based on:
33          (a) the school district or charter school's prior year average daily membership plus
34     growth in kindergarten through grade [8] 3 as determined under Section 53F-2-302 compared
35     to the total prior year average daily membership plus growth in kindergarten through grade [8]
36     3 statewide[.];
37          (b) student to teacher ratio; and
38          (c) lack of physical classroom space.
39          (3) Priority for an allocation described in Subsection (2) shall be given to school
40     districts or charter schools with the highest student to teacher ratio in kindergarten through
41     grade 3.
42          [(3)] (4) (a) An LEA governing board may use an allocation to reduce class size in any
43     one or all of the grades referred to under this section[, except as otherwise provided in
44     Subsection (3)(b)].
45          (b) [(i) An LEA governing board shall use 50% of an allocation to reduce class size in
46     any one or all of grades kindergarten through grade 2, with an emphasis on improving student
47     reading skills.]
48          [(ii) If a school district's or charter school's average class size is below 18 students in
49     kindergarten through grade 2, an LEA governing board may petition the state board for, and the
50     state board may grant, a waiver of the requirement described in Subsection (3)(b)(i).]
51          [(4)] (5) A school may use nontraditional innovative and creative methods to reduce
52     class sizes with this appropriation and may use part of an allocation to focus on class size
53     reduction for specific groups, such as at risk students, or for specific blocks of time during the
54     school day.
55          [(5)] (6) (a) An LEA governing board may use up to 20% of an allocation under this
56     section for capital facilities projects if such projects would help to reduce class size.
57          (b) If a school district's or charter school's student population increases by at least 5%
58     or at least 700 students from the previous school year, the LEA governing board may use up to
59     50% of an allocation received by the school district or charter school under this section for
60     classroom construction.
61          (7) An LEA governing board that receives an allocation under this section shall
62     provide a report to the state board that includes:
63          (a) an accounting of funds received;
64          (b) a description of how the funds were spent; and
65          (c) a description of the impact the funds had on reducing class size in the school
66     district or charter school;
67          [(6)] (8) This appropriation is to supplement any other appropriation made for class
68     size reduction.
69          [(7)] (9) The Legislature shall provide for an annual adjustment in the appropriation
70     authorized under this section in proportion to the increase in the number of students in the state
71     in kindergarten through grade [8] 3.
72          (10) The Legislature may provide for an annual adjustment in the appropriation
73     authorized under this section for inflation.
74          Section 2. Effective date.
75          This bill takes effect on May 1, 2024.