State Class Size Reduction/Early Intervention Initiative

Provides funding for school districts to reduce class sizes in grades K-3 to a state goal of 17 students to every one teacher;
Allows school districts the flexibility to also use the funding to support reading programs;
Requires school districts to notify parents at least twice each school year of the reading progress of their individual students. Parents will also be notified of any steps taken to improve the student’s reading ability; and
Class size reduction plans and annual progress reports required by new accreditation progress.

Funding:

Program Year	Class Size/Early Intervention	Technology

YEAR 1 – FY00 ‘99-2000 school year	$10 million Distributed: 50% ($5 million) K-3 enrollment 50% ($ 5million) 1-3 free/reduced lunch	4^th year of five-year $30 million annual commitment. No change in distribution or use of funds.
YEAR 2 – FY01 2000-01 school year	$20 million Distributed: 50% ($10 million) K-3 enrollment 50% ($10 million) 1-3 free/reduced lunch	5^th year of five-year $30 million annual commitment. No change in distribution or use of funds.
YEAR 3 - FY02 2001-02 school year	$30 million Distributed: * $20 million K-3 enrollment * $10 million 1-3 free/reduced lunch	Renew $30 million technology funding with district discretion to use up to 2/3 or $20 million of technology funding for class size/early intervention efforts including hiring staff. No staff hiring for portion used for tech. NEW DISTRIBUTION * District minimum lowered from $15,000 to $10,000; * AEA allotment lowered from $450,000 to $150,000; * Regent’s Braille and deaf, DHS schools allotment reduced.
YEAR 4 – FY03 2002-03 school year PROGRAM SUNSETS AFTER YEAR 4	$30 million Distributed: * $20 million K-3 enrollment * $10 million 1-3 free/reduced lunch	$30 million technology funding with district discretion to use up to 2/3 or $20 million of technology funding for class size/early intervention efforts. Distribution same as for YEAR 3.