K-3 CLASS SIZE REDUCTION
House Bill 4002
Sponsor: Rep. Jerry Kratz
Committee: Education
Complete to 1-16-03
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4002 AS INTRODUCED 1-8-03
House Bill 4002 would amend the Revised School Code to reduce class size in kindergarten through grade three, over a five-year period beginning in the 2003-2004 school year.
The bill specifies that for the 2003-2004 school year, if a school district or public school academy (more customarily called a charter school) operated a school building in which some or all of grades K-3 were offered, and in which at least 50 percent of the students enrolled in the school building in the immediately preceding school year had been eligible for free lunch, then the district or academy would be required to ensure that the average class size in grades K-3 was not more than 17 students per class, with not more than 19 students in any particular class.
Further, the bill specifies that during subsequent school years class size would be reduced, under the following circumstances:
-for the 2004-2005 school year, if the district or academy educated students in those grades and at least 35 percent of the students in the preceding year were eligible for free lunch;
-for the 2005-2006 school years, if the district or academy educated students in those grades and at least 20 percent were eligible for free lunch;
-for the 2006-2007 school year, if the district or academy educated students in those grades and at least 10 percent were eligible for free lunch; and then,
-beginning in the 2007-2008 school year and for each school year thereafter, all districts or academies that educated students in those grades would be required to ensure that the average class size was not more than 17 students per class, with not more than 19 in any particular class.
Under the bill, “free lunch eligibility” would be determined under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, and reported to the department not later than October 31 (and adjusted not later than December 31) of the immediately preceding school year.
MCL 380.1290
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.