Bill Text: HI SB286 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Bill 286 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Education; Class Size Ratio

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-05-11 - Carried over to 2010 Regular Session. [SB286 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-SB286-Introduced.html

Report Title:

Education; Class Size Ratio

Description:

Establishes a class size ratio in all grades not to exceed eighteen students to one teacher, beginning in the 2012‑2013 school year; requires the department of education to develop a plan for class size reduction and report to the 2010 legislature on the plan and implementation costs.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	286
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A‑ Class size ratio. Beginning with the 2012‑2013 school year, the ratio of students to teachers in all grades shall not exceed eighteen students to one teacher."

SECTION 2. Section 302A-640, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) Schools with only one class for each grade level [~~in kindergarten through grade six~~] shall be exempt from the average statewide class size ratio [~~that may be established under any collective bargaining agreement between the teacher's exclusive bargaining representative and the department.~~] established pursuant to section 302A- . These schools shall maintain a minimum staffing level of not less than one full-time equivalent teacher position per grade level per school[~~, for kindergarten to grade six~~]. This subsection shall not apply to a school with fewer than twelve students in any one grade level."

SECTION 3. The board of education shall amend any board of education policies related to class size, pursuant to the class size ratio established in section 302A‑ , Hawaii Revised Statutes.

SECTION 4. To achieve the class size ratio established in section 302A‑ , Hawaii Revised Statutes, the department of education shall develop a plan for the reduction in class size for public elementary, middle, and high schools for implementation to begin with the 2012-2013 school year. The plan shall include cost estimates for necessary personnel.

The department of education shall report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2010 on its plan, timetable, and budgetary projections to accomplish the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.