A5430

An Act concerning class sizes in school districts and supplementing chapter 36 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. A board of education that is approved to provide a State-funded universal preschool program shall ensure that the preschool class size does not exceed 15 children. A school district may have fewer than 15 children in a preschool class, if the services can be provided at the school district’s per pupil amount, and the essential elements established by the State Board of Education for the implementation of a high-quality preschool program are maintained.

2. a. As used in this section, “high poverty school district” means a district in which 40 percent or more of the students are “at-risk pupils” as defined in section 3 of P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-45).

b. The class size in a high poverty school district shall not exceed 21 students in grades kindergarten through three, 23 students in grades four and five, and 24 students in grades six through 12. In the event that a district chooses to maintain lower class sizes in grades kindergarten through three, class sizes in grades four and five may equal but not exceed 25. Exceptions to these class sizes shall be permitted for physical education and performing arts classes where appropriate.

c. The class size in a school district, other than a high poverty school district, shall not exceed 25 students in grades kindergarten through 12. An exception to this class size shall be permitted for:

(1) physical education and performing arts classes where appropriate;

(2) multi-grade academies where students at various grade levels may remain with a core group of teachers for multiple years in an academy-type format which may be organized around a particular theme and involve interdisciplinary teaching; or

(3) other practices for personalizing learning environments that strengthen relationships among students, teachers, other staff members, families, and the larger community.

d. The instructional class size for special education students placed in special class programs shall meet the requirements established by the State Board of Education.

e. If upon the establishment of a class size of a maximum of 25 students per class, the district has unassigned students, the district may choose to either exceed the 25 student limit by the placement of one or more additional students in one or more classes or reduce the number of students in one or more classes to create an increased number of classes.

f. The State shall pay 100 percent of the costs incurred by a school district to reduce its class size to a maximum of 25 students.

3. The provisions of this act shall not be construed to affect the terms of any collective negotiations agreement with a relevant provision in force on the effective date of this act.

4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first be applicable to the second full school year following the date of enactment.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes and codifies required class sizes in school districts.

The bill codifies State Board of Education class size regulations that provide that in the case of a school district that is approved to provide a State-funded preschool program, the preschool class size may not exceed 15 children. In the case of a “high poverty school district,” class size may not exceed 21 students in grades kindergarten through three, 23 students in grades four and five, and 24 students in grades six through 12 Under the bill and State board regulations, a “high poverty school district” means a school district in which 40 percent or more of the students are “at-risk pupils” as defined under current law.

The bill expands class size limits to other school districts. In the case of school districts other than high poverty districts, class size may not exceed 25 students in grades kindergarten through 12. The bill provides exceptions for physical education and performing arts classes and other specialized classes. The State is to pay 100 percent of the costs incurred by a school district to reduce its class size to a maximum of 25 students.

It is the sponsor’s belief that the enactment of P.L.2018, c.67 (commonly referred to as S-2), and the reductions in State aid to many school districts that were the result of the enactment of that law and subsequent State budgets, have forced school districts to increase class size to the point where the ability of students to learn has been greatly diminished. In light of numerous studies that indicate that appropriate class size is a critical component of student achievement, it is essential that the State take action to support reduced class sizes.