Bill Text: MS HB1161 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Student-teacher ratio; lower maximum allowed in grades 1-4 to 24:1.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2017-01-31 - Died In Committee [HB1161 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2017-HB1161-Introduced.html

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MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2017 Regular Session

To: Education; Appropriations

By: Representative Myers

House Bill 1161

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-151-77, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO LOWER THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE PUPIL-TEACHER RATIO IN GRADES ONE THROUGH FOUR IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM 27:1 TO 24:1; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 37-151-77, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     37-151-77.  To qualify for funds provided in this chapter, each school district shall not exceed a pupil-teacher ratio based on enrollment in Grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 as follows:  * * *27:1 24:1.

     For Grades Kindergarten and 5 through 12, the pupil-teacher ratio shall be determined based on appropriate accreditation standards developed by the Mississippi Commission on School Accreditation.

     Any local district may apply to the State Board of Education for approval of a waiver to this section by submitting and justifying an alternative educational program to serve the needs of enrollment in Grades Kindergarten and 1 through 4.  The State Board of Education shall approve or disapprove of such waiver forty-five (45) days after receipt of such application.  If a school district violates the provisions of this section, the state aid for the ensuing fiscal year to such school district shall be reduced by the percentage variance that the actual pupil-teacher ratios in such school district has to the required pupil-teacher ratios mandated in this section.  * * *Provided, that However, notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the State Board of Education is authorized to waive the pupil-teacher requirements specified * * *herein in this section upon a finding that a good faith effort is being made by the school district concerned to comply with the ratio provisions but that * * *for due to a lack of classroom space which * * *was is beyond its control, it is physically impossible for the district to comply, and the cost of temporary classroom space cannot be justified.  In the event any school district meets the highest levels of accreditation standards as determined by the State Board of Education in the state's accountability system, the State Board of Education may, in its discretion, exempt such school district from the maximum pupil-teacher ratio in Grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 prescribed * * *herein in this section.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2017.

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