REPORT TITLE:
Class Size Reduction


DESCRIPTION:
Reduces the student-to-teacher ratio in kindergarten to fourth
grade to 20 students to one teacher, over a period of 3 fiscal
years.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        2282
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION.



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

 1      SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to assist Hawaii in
 
 2 meeting its goals for education by providing a firm educational
 
 3 base for children during their formative years.  This Act reduces
 
 4 the student-to-teacher ratio in kindergarten to fourth grade to
 
 5 twenty students to one teacher, over a period of three fiscal
 
 6 years, to improve learning opportunities.
 
 7      SECTION 2.  Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 8 amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated
 
 9 and to read as follows:
 
10      "§302A-    Class size reduction.  (a)  The ratio of students
 
11 to teachers in kindergarten through fourth grade shall be as
 
12 follows:
 
13      (1)  Beginning July 1, 2000, not more than twenty students
 
14           to one teacher in kindergarten, first grade, and second
 
15           grade;
 
16      (2)  Beginning July 1, 2001, not more than twenty students
 
17           to one teacher in kindergarten, first grade, second
 
18           grade, and third grade; and
 
19      (3)  Beginning July 1, 2002, not more than twenty students
 

 
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                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1           to one teacher in kindergarten, first grade, second
 
 2           grade, third grade, and fourth grade.
 
 3      (b)  A special education student shall be counted as one
 
 4 full-time student when computing the ratio of students to
 
 5 teachers.
 
 6      (c)  No funds appropriated for the purpose of class size
 
 7 reduction shall be used for administrative services, whether or
 
 8 not these services are provided to students.
 
 9      (d)  Each school shall determine through a collaborative
 
10 process with teachers how funds shall be expended to reduce class
 
11 size."
 
12      SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
13 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $        , or so much
 
14 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2000-2001, to carry
 
15 out the purposes of this Act.
 
16      SECTION 4.  The sum appropriated shall be expended by the
 
17 department of education.
 
18      SECTION 5.  New statutory material is underscored.
 
19      SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2000.
 
20 
 
21                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________