FISCAL NOTE
FUND(S):
Sources of Revenue:
Other Fund N/A
Legislation creates:
Neither Program nor Fund
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
The purpose of this bill is to extend the kindergarten teacher-pupil ratios to prekindergarten teachers and provide additional pay for prekindergarten teachers for students beyond the maximum ratio. The bill also provides additional pay for prekindergarten and kindergarten classroom aides for students beyond the maximum ratios utilizing the same calculation as for the teachers.
In addition, the bill creates two new bus operator service personnel positions. "Bus Operator II" is for bus operators with at least 10 years of experience as a bus operator and "Bus Operator III" is for bus operators with at least 20 years of experience.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2013
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2014
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
0 |
3,117,076 |
3,117,076 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
1,528,911 |
1,528,911 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
1,588,165 |
1,588,165 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
The estimated 2013-14 cost for the two new bus operator positions is $1,528,911. This estimated cost increase is an increase to the State, as the increased pay grades for the new position codes would be included in Step 2 of the Public School Support Program (PSSP). The estimated cost includes increased salaries under Step 2, increased fixed charges under Step 3, increased current expense and substitute costs under Step 6, and increased retirement costs.
The change in the teacher-pupil ratios will not result in increased costs to the State, as WVC 18-5-18a indicates that all additional compensation for exceeding the maximum ratios is paid exclusively from county funds. The estimated 2013-14 cost to the county boards of education is $1,588,165. This increased cost is associated with providing additional compensation for kindergarten aides in classrooms with greater than 20 pupils. The cost estimate includes increased salary, fringe benefits, and retirement costs. Please note that on page 4 of the proposed legislation, the language pertaining to additional pay for aides refers to classrooms with more than 25 students. WVDE believes that the intent was 20 students, and the estimate was calculated assuming 20 students. If WVDE had used 25 students in the calculation, there would have been no additional pay for classroom aides because the maximum allowed in kindergarten classrooms is 23 students (three beyond the limit of 20).
Because pre-kindergarten classrooms are currently prohibited from having greater than 20 students per classroom, there is insufficient data to project a future cost for additional pay for pre-kindergarten teachers and aides. The proposed legislation would allow for exceptions to the 20 student maximum, which would result in increased costs for pre-kindergarten teachers and aides if counties did in fact have pre-kindergarten classrooms with more than 20 students. Any increased cost would be borne by the county boards of education.
The 20 limit class size maximum is the national benchmark for early childhood education, which is currently met for WV Universal Pre-K. Approximately 74% of WV Universal Pre-K classrooms are in partnership with community programs, such as Child Care and Head Start, which require a maximum class size of 20. By allowing exceptions to the class size max, this proposal would lower the current standards for pre-kindergarten below federal and state partners. Further, county boards of education employ 64% of the Universal Pre-K teachers and about 54% of the assistant teachers/aides. The proposed legislation would create inequality in the Universal Pre-K system by having different standards for teachers employed by the county boards of education and those employed by the community partners.
Memorandum
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Brenda Freed
Email Address: bfreed@access.k12.wv.us