RD33 - Annual Report on the Status of the K-3 Primary Class Size Reduction Program


Executive Summary:
Pursuant to the requirements of Item 146, paragraph C.8. of the 2005 Appropriation Act (Chapter 951, 2005 Acts of Assembly), the Department of Education collected information from school divisions on the reduced student-to-teacher ratios and maximum class sizes for grades kindergarten through three for all schools eligible for funding under the K-3 Primary Class Size Reduction program.

In order to receive state incentive funding for reduced class sizes, school divisions must meet student-to-teacher ratio and class size requirements in each school eligible to participate in the program, based on free lunch eligibility.

The objective of the K-3 Primary Class Size Reduction program is to provide additional funding as an incentive for school divisions to reduce class sizes below the required class sizes established in the Standards of Quality (SOQ) for grades kindergarten through three.

As of the date of this report, 810 schools were eligible to participate in the K-3 Primary Class Size Reduction program:

• Of the eligible schools, five schools opted out of the program, choosing to not participate.

• One school did not meet the requirements for state funding based on the lowest student-to-teacher ratio for which it qualified, and accepted reduced funds for a higher ratio.

• In total, 804 schools met the requirements for state funding based on the lowest student-to-teacher ratio for which they qualified.

State payments to school divisions for the K-3 Primary Class Size Reduction program in fiscal year 2006 are estimated to be $67,224,911.

Appendix A to this report includes excerpted language from HB/SB 29 on the K-3 Primary Class Size Reduction program.

Appendix B to this report provides division-level estimated K-3 Primary Class Size Reduction program payments and the number of participating schools for fiscal year 2006.