HB4455 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 16719 NHT 61893 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB4455

Introduced 1/30/2012, by Rep. Marlow H. Colvin

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/34-18.47 new

Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that each year, on or before the September fall enrollment count, (1) the maximum number of students assigned to each teacher who is teaching courses in public school classrooms for prekindergarten through grade 3 may not exceed 18 students; (2) the maximum number of students assigned to each teacher who is teaching courses in public school classrooms for grades 4 through 8 may not exceed 22 students; and the maximum number of students assigned to each teacher who is teaching courses in public school classrooms for grades 9 through 12 may not exceed 25 students, which maximums must be maintained after the September fall enrollment count. Sets forth exceptions. Requires the State Board of Education to annually calculate class size measures based upon the September fall enrollment count.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 34-18.47 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/34-18.47 new)

Sec. 34-18.47. Maximum class size.

(a) Each year, on or before the September fall enrollment count, the following class size maximums must be satisfied:

(1) The maximum number of students assigned to each teacher who is teaching courses in public school classrooms for prekindergarten through grade 3 may not exceed 18 students.

(2) The maximum number of students assigned to each teacher who is teaching courses in public school classrooms for grades 4 through 8 may not exceed 22 students. The maximum number of students assigned to a high school course in which a student in any of grades 4 through 8 is enrolled shall be governed by the requirements in subdivision (3) of this subsection (a).

(3) The maximum number of students assigned to each teacher who is teaching courses in public school classrooms for grades 9 through 12 may not exceed 25 students. These maximums must be maintained after the September fall enrollment count, except as provided in subsection (c) of this Section or due to an extreme emergency beyond the control of the board.

(b) The State Board of Education shall annually calculate the class size measures described in subsection (a) of this Section based upon the September fall enrollment count.

(c) A student who enrolls in a school after the September fall enrollment count may be assigned to an existing class that temporarily exceeds the maximum number of students in subsection (a) of this Section if the board determines it to be impractical, educationally unsound, or disruptive to student learning to not assign the student to the class. If the board makes this determination:

(1) up to 3 students may be assigned to a teacher in kindergarten through grade 3 above the maximum as provided in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this Section;

(2) up to 5 students may be assigned to a teacher in grades 4 through 12 above the maximum as provided in subdivisions (2) and (3) of subsection (a) of this Section, respectively; and

(3) the board shall develop a plan that provides that the school will be in full compliance with the maximum class size in subsection (a) of this Section by the next September fall enrollment count.