S-4483.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6754

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1998 Regular Session

By Senators McAuliffe, Goings, T. Sheldon, Fraser, Rasmussen, Franklin, Patterson, Brown, Kohl, Kline, Prentice, Spanel, Thibaudeau, B. Sheldon, Loveland, Snyder, Jacobsen and Wojahn

Read first time 02/06/98.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Reducing public school class size.

    AN ACT Relating to reducing class size; adding a new section to chapter 28A.150 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  As schools work to improve student learning they must have enough teachers to do the job.  The legislature finds that students need to receive the undivided attention to reach the new and higher learning standards.

    The legislature further finds that research indicates that there are three required components to reducing class size:  (1) Additional teachers; (2) staff development to work with small groups of students effectively; and (3) sufficient classroom materials.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.150 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) Beginning in the 1999-2000 school year, the Washington class size improvement program shall be implemented.  The superintendent of public instruction shall review the following topics and make recommendations regarding implementation of:

    (a) Class size improvements as follows:  One teacher for every twenty students in grade four, one teacher for every twenty-one students in grades five and six, one teacher for every twenty students in language arts and mathematics-related classes in grades seven through twelve, and one teacher for every fifteen students in grades kindergarten through three;

    (b) Staff development programs that will improve learning in working with small groups of students;

    (c) Supplies and materials necessary to support student learning in small groups;

    (d) Classroom space, including construction needs and possible methods to change school schedules;

    (e) Teacher recruitment; and

    (f) Plans for future class size improvements, including but not limited to, middle school classes and other identified areas.

    (2) The superintendent of public instruction shall consult with teachers, administrators, students, parents, and school board and community members in developing the class size improvement program.  The review and recommendation shall be completed by November 20, 1998, and reported to the governor, and the education, higher education, and fiscal committees of the house of representatives and the senate.

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