Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Appropriations Committee
HB 1415
Brief Description: Concerning skill center class size.
Sponsors: Representatives Paul, Dufault, Santos, Riccelli and Pollet.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Lowers the skill center class size for prototypical school funding from 20 to 16.67 students beginning in the 2021-22 school year.
Hearing Date: 2/9/21
Staff: James Mackison (786-7104).
Background:

Skill Centers.
Skill centers are regional Career and Technical Education (CTE) instructional venues established and operated by a host school district to provide access to comprehensive, industry-defined CTE programs that prepare high school students for careers, employment, apprenticeships, and postsecondary education.  There are 14 skill centers in Washington.  In the 2019-20 school year, approximately 5,600 full-time equivalent students were enrolled in Skill Centers.


Class Sizes in School Funding Formulas.
To determine state allocations for instructional staff units to school districts, state prototypical school funding formulas include class sizes for grades and programs.  For skills centers, the class size in prototypical funding formulas is 20 students.  For grades 9 through 12, the class size in prototypical funding formulas is 28.74.  In school funding formulas, lower class sizes result in increased allocations for staff.
Summary of Bill:

Class sizes used to determine instructional staff units for skill center funding formulas are reduced from 20 to 16.67 students, beginning in the 2021-22 school year.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.