Requires the DOE to reduce the ratio of students to teachers in kindergarten to grade 2 to not more than 20 students to 1 teacher. Provides workload relief for class advisors and class size reduction for teachers required to teach in more than two grade levels and 2 subject matter fields.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that a key element to education reform, recognized nationwide, is class-size reduction. Studies conducted by several states, the U.S. Department of Education, and independent organizations have shown that class-size reduction in grades kindergarten through two have produced better test scores on standardized reading and mathematics tests.

The federal government, through the U.S. Department of Education, has allotted a total of $12,400,000,000 over seven years to recruit, hire, and train new teachers. A total of $1,300,000,000 has been allotted for the 2001-2002 school year, of which the State of Hawaii will receive $1,855,528, to be administered by the Hawaii department of education.

The legislature further finds that Hawaii’s public school teachers are burdened with great many tasks that ultimately affect the education of Hawaii’s youth, such as teaching in more than two grade levels and two subject matter fields. Teachers who serve as class advisors in secondary schools are especially over burdened with having to perform two full-time jobs -- classroom teacher and class advisor.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- Class size and workload reduction. (a) Subject to the availability of funds appropriated by the legislature and allotted by the governor, the department:

(b) The department shall not include any students or teachers in categorical programs when computing the ratio of students to teachers specified in subsection (a). The exemption in subsection (a) shall not apply to the availability of funds allocated by the department.

(c) If a school will not have the classrooms needed to accommodate the additional classes created by the reduction of the student to teacher ratio as specified in subsection (a), the governor may reallocate the unexpendable operating funds to enable schools to hire qualified part-time teachers to assist full-time teachers, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary.

(d) The department shall report the failure to attain or maintain, or both, the ratio of students to teachers, including the reasons therefor, to the legislature. This report shall be submitted to the legislature not less than twenty days prior to the convening of any regular or special session.

(e) Class advisors to students in grades nine to twelve shall not devote more than fifty per cent of the regular work day, including their daily preparation period, to classroom instruction; provided that class advisors shall devote the remaining fifty per cent of the regular work day, excluding their daily preparation period, to class activities.

(f) Full-time teachers in intermediate or high schools with an enrollment of five hundred students or less shall be provided a qualified part-time teacher to assist with their assigned teaching duties if the full-time teacher is required to teach in more than two grade levels and two subject matter fields.

(g) In the event of a conflict between this section and any other law, this section shall control."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, and the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003, to carry out the purposes of this Act. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.