Draft sets class-size minimums and directs State Board rulemaking and compliance review

Conference counsel summarized class-size provisions and State Board duties in the H.454 draft on June 13. The bill would set minimum class sizes, create a waiver process, and require the State Board of Education to update rules and take action if schools fail to comply over multiple years.

Under the draft’s class-size minimums, kindergarten would be excluded; first grade minimum would be 10 students; grades 2–5 minimum 12 students; grades 6–8 minimum 15 students for all content areas; and grades 9–12 minimum 18 students in required content areas. The bill includes a waiver process and provides that State Board action for noncompliance would be discretionary and would not be triggered unless noncompliance persisted for three consecutive school years.

The draft requires the State Board to initiate rulemaking to update education quality standards (the 2000 series) to reflect class-size minimums and to adopt statewide standards for graduation requirements. It would require the State Board to provide substantially similar opportunity for an approved independent school not complying with class-size minimums to come into compliance as public schools receive. The draft also states that consolidation as a remedy is off the table if resulting construction costs would exceed the district’s capital reserve.

Committee counsel said some language remains to be edited and that kindergarten exclusion will be reflected in an edited draft. No vote occurred during the June 13 session; the committee continued to other bill sections.