Senate backs $52 million class‑size reduction plan with targeted formula amendments

House Bill 235, a class‑size reduction initiative presented by Senator Taylor, would boost state funding for class‑size reductions in early grades and direct districts to spend at least half of their allocation on kindergarten through second grade with an emphasis on reading. Taylor described amendments from the Appropriations Committee designed to address criticism that the original approach merely distributed money by enrollment rather than need; the amendment requires the State Board of Education to distribute 20% of the appropriation according to a formula that considers district need, growth, usage of alternative housing, and districts’ efforts to raise money for class‑size reduction.

Senators debated whether to recognize districts' historic efforts — for example, districts that historically funded textbooks or accepted larger classes in exchange for higher teacher pay — and whether to account for alternative delivery systems such as year‑round schedules or extended‑day programs. Senator Hilliard asked for a paragraph to account for historic effort; Taylor accepted and made that a part of the amendment. Senator Steele and others urged consideration of delivery methods as part of the formula so districts that had used scheduling or technology to address class size would be recognized.

After these friendly amendments were accepted and the amendment sheets combined, the Senate moved the bill onto the third reading calendar; the clerk later recorded a roll call showing the bill passing the Senate with 27 yeas and 2 absent and it will be transmitted to the House for their consideration.