| TO: | Honorable Florence Shapiro, Chair, Senate Committee on Education |
| FROM: | John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB443 by Patrick (Relating to measures intended to provide flexibility and cost savings to school districts.), As Introduced |
School districts could realize cost savings under the provisions of the bill. Beginning with the 2011-12 school year, the bill would replace the current 22:1 class size restriction for grades kindergarten through four with a requirement for a district-wide average of 21 students in classes for those grade levels. The level of savings realized by individual districts under this provision would be expected to vary widely depending upon the district's current class size for those grade levels, waiver status, and local financial conditions. The bill would also provide districts with discretion concerning summer programs for prekindergarten and kindergarten students with limited English proficiency that are mandatory under current law. To the extent that districts exercise discretion under the bill to discontinue such programs, local cost savings would be realized.
The bill would extend statutory exemptions that currently apply to school districts that are rated exemplary to include districts that are rated recognized. The extension of excellence exemptions along with the remaining measures in the bill, including provisions related to promotion requirements for certain eighth grade students, accelerated instruction, and processes relating to the termination of employees convicted of certain criminal offenses, would provide districts with additional flexibility and opportunities for efficiency in administration and program implementation that could potentially result in savings to some districts depending upon local circumstances.
| Source Agencies: | 701 Central Education Agency
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, LXH, JGM, JSp
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