School finance-class sizes 5.

2017
STATE OF WYOMING
17LSO-0544
Introduced
1.2

HOUSE BILL

NO.

HB0138

School finance-class sizes 5.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Northrup, Brown, Burkhart and Madden and Senator(s) Driskill

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to education; modifying education resource block grant model class size components; amending class size requirements; amending foundation account eligibility requirements for class size; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S. 21
‑
9
‑
101(
d) and 21
‑
13
‑
307(a)(iv) are amended to read:

21
‑
9
‑
101.

Educational programs for schools; standards; core of knowledge and skills; special needs programs; class size requirements; cocurricular activities.

(d)

In addition to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, each school district within this state shall endeavor to maintain when practicable, in kindergarten through grade three (3) within the district, an average class size of no more than
sixteen (16)
eighteen
(
18
)

s
tudents per teacher, excluding children with disabilities who spend more than fifty percent (50%) of their time outside of regular classroom instruction.

21
‑
13
‑
307.

Eligibility to share in distribution of money from foundation account; mandatory financial reporting.

(a)

Each district which meets the following requirements is eligible to share in the distribution of funds from the foundation account:

(iv)

The
district shall provide evidence to the state superintendent that the district has maintained an average student
‑
teacher ratio of not greater than
sixteen (16)
eighteen (18)

to one (1) for the aggregate of all classes in kindergarten through grade three (3) in the district in the preceding school year. The requirement of
this paragraph may be waived by the department of education for any district that demonstrates insufficient school facility capacity, positive school performance,
positive
student achievement or for other reasons related to the delivery of the education program to students. This paragraph shall not apply to charter schools established under W.S. 21
‑
3
‑
301 through 21
‑
3
‑
314 or schools designated as exceeding expectations pursuant to W.S. 21
‑
2
‑
204(
e)(
i
)(A). Schools designated as exceeding expectations pursuant to W.S. 21
‑
2
‑
204(
e)(
i
)(A) shall notify the department annually of the student teacher ratios for the aggregate of all classes in kindergarten through grade three (3) in the district in the preceding year. The department shall compute the student
‑
teacher ratio and report it to each district not later than March 1 of each year. To obtain a waiver under this paragraph, a school district shall apply to the department not later than March 15 of each year. The application shall be based on the student
‑
teacher ratio reported by the department of education, together with any other information required by the department. The department shall approve or deny an application for a waiver under this paragraph not later than April 10 of that year. A waiver approved under this
paragraph shall be effective for the school year immediately following the application and approval.

Section
2
.

2011 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 185, Attachment "A"(b)(ii) and (iii) is amended to read:

ATTACHMENT "A"

ATTACHMENT "A" CONTAINS AN ENUMERATION OF EDUCATION RESOURCE BLOCK GRANT MODEL COMPONENTS SUMMARIZING AND EXECUTING RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN THE 2010 COST OF EDUCATION STUDY AS FOLLOWS:

(b)

Notwithstanding components specified in the 2010 cost of education study accepted by the legislature, the Wyoming education resource block grant model components and the resourcing for those components, as enacted by the legislature, shall be as follows:

(ii)

Class size:
16
18

for grades
Kindergarten through 5;
21

22
for grades 6
through 12

in school year 2017
‑
2018, 23 in 2018
‑
2019 and 24 in 2019
‑
2020
and each year thereafter
.

(iii)

Core teachers:
Elementary school
ADM divided by
16

18
;
Middle school ADM divided by
21

22
in school year 2017
‑
2018, 23 in 2018
‑
2019 and 24 in 2019
‑
2020

and each year thereafter
;
High school
ADM divided by
21

22
in
school year 2017
‑
2018, 23 in 2018
‑
2019 and 24 in 2019
‑
2020

and each year thereafter
.

Section
3
.

This act is effective July 1, 201
7
.

(END)

1
HB0138