Requires ratio of 20 students to 1 teacher ratio in kindergarten through grade 3; requires special education students, including Felix students, and students receiving accommodation under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to be included on a weighted basis depending upon disability when determining student to teacher ratio.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

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 reduction. (a) The ratio of students to teachers in kindergarten through grade three shall be not more than twenty students to one teacher.

(b) Special education students, including students who receive mental health services pursuant to the Felix v. Cayetano consent decree, and students who receive accommodation in an educational setting pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, shall be included and counted on a weighted basis depending on the disability, when computing the ratio of students to teachers."

SECTION 2. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.