School boards; assignment of teachers, class size limits. (HB1498)

Introduced By

Del. Jim LeMunyon (R-Oak Hill) with support from co-patron Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-Herndon)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

School boards; assignment of teachers; class size limits. Reduces from 29 to 28 the maximum class size in kindergarten; from 30 to 28 the maximum class size in grades one, two, and three; and from 35 to 29 the maximum class size in grades four, five, and six. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
12/16/2016Committee
12/16/2016Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17100247D
12/16/2016Referred to Committee on Education
01/11/2017Impact statement from DPB (HB1498)
01/13/2017Assigned Education sub: Elementary and Secondary Education
01/20/2017Assigned Education sub: Education Innovation
01/23/2017Impact statement from DHCD (HB1498)
01/24/2017Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N)
01/24/2017Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations
01/25/2017Reported from Education (20-Y 1-N) (see vote tally)
01/25/2017Referred to Committee on Appropriations
01/25/2017Assigned App. sub: Elementary & Secondary Education
01/30/2017Impact statement from DHCD/CLG (HB1498)
01/31/2017Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/08/2017Left in Appropriations

Comments

Waldo Jaquith writes:

I...what? Does Del. LeMunyon think that the way to reduce class size is by just...ordering that they be smaller? I don't see any funding attached to this bill. You're just going to require that schools have smaller classes, but do nothing to pay for that? And you think that's gonna be a helpful thing to do? Or you just think this is gonna look good in your brochure when you're running for re-election next fall?

Jo Neuber writes:

Its a moot point, but this bill would address VA keeping pace with over 30 years of research on ideal class size of 25 or fewer. We aren't even keeping pace with prevailing practice, and in fact, are dead last in terms of having the HIGHEST hard class size caps in Elementary grades 1-6 in the NATION. (According to the Education Commission of the States/see our website for details).

Teacher attrition is linked to workload and large class sizes; class size is a top factor in 97% of a national teacher survey to teachers who leave a school district--its a top factor in determining their departure.

So, if we throw some few 100k dollars to a few school districts (and this bill costs a MERE $3.M across the ENTIRE state) we can ensure VA starts to keep pace with prevailing practice in terms of quality class sizes. #qualityclass size, #teacherburnout

Again, over 30 years of academic research shows that class size reduction (25 or fewer) in K-12 leads to longer term benefits, both for teachers and students. See www.classsizecounts.com.