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 decrease the student-to-teacher ratio in kindergarten through sixth grade. For first or second grades the current ratio of 25 pupils to 1 teacher will be reduced to 17 pupils for 1 teacher. The ratio for kindergarten classes of 20 pupils to 1 teacher will be reduced to 17 pupils to 1 teacher. Grades three through sixth will continue with a ratio of 25 pupils to 1 teacher.
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 |
109,778,205 |
109,778,205 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
109,778,205 |
109,778,205 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
The estimated cost for the proposed legislation is $109,778,205. The full cost would be borne by the county boards of education since the professional educator limits under the Public School Support Program are not being increased to account for the change in classroom sizes. Further, WVC 18-5-18a indicates that additional compensation paid to teachers for having students in a classroom greater than the limit shall be paid exclusively from county funds.
If the classroom size for kindergarten through second grade becomes 17 students, the maximum number of students in any such classrooms would be 20 students in future years, allowing for 3 students beyond the limit. Based on 2012-13 current class sizes, there are 513 kindergarten, 537 first grade, and 549 second grade classrooms with more than 20 students. Therefore, an additional 1,599 teachers would be required statewide in order to meet the new classroom limits for next fiscal year. The estimated cost of $102,975,009 includes the estimated cost for the salaries, fixed costs, current expense/substitute costs, retirement and PEIA for these additional teachers.
In addition to the cost calculated above, the change in the classroom sizes would result in an increase in the additional pay paid to classroom teachers who have up to 3 students over the limit. WVDE is unable to calculate the additional pay component of the proposed legislation due to some contradictory language in the proposed bill. On pages 1 and 2, the bill indicates 17 pupils maximum for kindergarten, first and second grades, and leaves the maximum at 25 pupils for grades three through six. However, given that a teacher can have a maximum of 3 pupils over the ratios for additional pay purposes, the wording on page 3 of the bill regarding the calculation of the additional pay contradicts the earlier ratios. The bill indicates to calculate the additional pay based on 20 students for grades one through six. This means that a first or second grade teacher would receive no additional pay but teachers in grades three through six would receive additional pay for eight students.
Memorandum
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Brenda Freed
Email Address: bfreed@access.k12.wv.us