SB2167 SD1

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that public schools are presently overcrowded with an average of twenty-five to twenty-seven students per classroom. Larger class sizes hinder the learning process and make the environment less accommodating to one-on-one student and teacher interaction. A United States Department of Education's senior research analyst has stated that "[t]he strongest pre-college predictor of degree completion is the academic intensity and the quality of a student's high school curriculum." However, with crowded classrooms, exhausted resources, and scarce funding, the quality of the curriculum fails.

The legislature further finds that, according to the recent Student-Teacher Achievement Ratio report from Tennessee, without direct communication between student and teacher, the subject taught is insufficiently learned by the student, resulting in a decreased level of competency necessary to meet standards. The result is that schools fail to meet the passing standards for examinations and basic skill tests. In Texas, a state that has been a pioneer in education reform, reductions in class size and increases in the number of teachers were central to increasing student achievement and reducing the achievement gap, thereby meeting the standard examination and assessment requirements and surpassing the status quo. Similar initiatives in other jurisdictions, including Tennessee, have also demonstrated that the students have greatly benefited from smaller, reduced class sizes. In Tennessee, students in smaller classes in grades kindergarten through three performed significantly better on standardized skills tests, and the benefits of smaller classes in these and other grades has had lasting effects even when students return to larger classes.

The legislature further finds that teachers also benefit from smaller class sizes. Teachers who are assigned to smaller classes report higher morale levels and are often able to move more quickly through their curriculum. Additionally, these teachers often experience fewer discipline problems and are better able to recognize learning deficiencies or the special needs of their students.

The purpose of this Act is to require the department of education to reduce class size for junior kindergarten, kindergarten, and third grade classes in public schools and to develop a plan for the reduction in class size for public elementary, middle, and high schools. This measure also assists students and teachers by ensuring that new teachers are not required to teach a teaching line that is outside their teaching certificate or includes more than two courses.

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 reduction. (a) The department shall reduce the student to teacher ratios as follows:

(1) Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, the ratio of students to teachers in elementary school grade three shall not exceed twenty-two students to one teacher; and

(2) Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, the ratio of students to teachers in junior kindergarten and kindergarten classes shall not exceed fifteen students to one teacher.

(b) The department shall support class size reduction by providing additional staff, as necessary, including but not limited to full-time teachers, part-time teachers, or teachers' aides."

SECTION 3. (a) The department shall develop a four-year plan for the reduction in class size for public elementary, middle, and high schools for implementation to begin with the 2010-2011 school year; provided that:

(1) Phase one of the plan shall provide for action to be taken in the first year of the plan's implementation and shall:

(A) Provide for reducing the ratio of students to teachers in elementary school grades one and two to not more than fifteen-to-one; and

(B) Provide for reducing the ratio of students to teachers to no more than eighteen-to-one when a secondary teacher new to the system is given a teaching line that includes three or more different courses or one or more courses outside of the new teacher's licensed teaching subject or subjects;

(2) Phases two, three, and four of the plan shall provide for action to be taken in the second, third, and fourth years of the plan's implementation, at the discretion of the department, and shall provide for the reduction of class size as follows:

(A) For grades four to six, the student to teacher ratio shall be reduced to not more than eighteen-to-one; and

(B) For grades seven to twelve, each teacher's total class load shall equal approximately one hundred and eight students, which may equate to six classes of approximately eighteen students or any other variation in the number of classes and students per class; provided that a teacher's total class load shall not exceed one hundred and eight students; and

(3) The plan shall include cost estimates for necessary personnel and facilities for each phase of the plan.

(b) The department of education shall report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2009 on its plan, timetable, and budgetary projections to accomplish the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. 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 2008‑2009 to facilitate the reduction of class size in all junior kindergarten, kindergarten, and third grade public schools, including the hiring of additional teachers, and other necessary staff for the purposes of this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2167
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII