NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.

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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

State Department of Public Education (SDE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HEC Amendment

The House Education Committee amendment would require the maximum individual class size for English, math, science, social science and communication skills in grades seven through twelve not to exceed thirty students except in English classes grades seven through eight, class size shall not exceed twenty-seven students per class.

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 803 amends the Public School Code to establish class size limits of 25 students in grades first through sixth and 30 students in Math, English, Social Science and Communication Skills courses in grades 7-12.

Significant Issues

The issue of smaller class sizes has been studied extensively by academic and professional researchers. Until fairly recently, the research yielded mixed results and was generally considered inconclusive. Both individual studies of the evidence and comprehensive reviews of the research reported contradictory conclusions. However, some recent research has provided support to the proposition that smaller class size does make a difference, particularly in the early grades.

Bennet (1987) , in a review of research, found broad agreement among reachers on the following general conclusions:

• •Smaller classes result in increased student-teacher contact;
• •Reductions in class size to less than 20 students without changes in instructional methods cannot guarantee improved academic achievement;
• •No single class size is optimal for all grade levels and subjects;
• •Smaller class sizes appear to result in greater achievement gains for students with lower academic ability and for those who are economically or socially disadvantaged;
• •Classroom management improves in smaller classes;
• •Smaller classes result in higher teacher morale and reduced stress;
• •Individualization is more likely to occur in smaller classes; and
• •Smaller classes are beneficial for children at the primary level, particularly in math and reading.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

SDE indicates that the General Fund appropriation for public schools would need to increase to implement the provisions of this bill.

SDE estimates the costs as follows:

• •The cost of imposing a maximum class size of 25 students per class for grades 1,2, and 3 would be $878.6.



• •The cost of imposing a maximum class size of 25 students per class for grades 4,5, and 6 would be $1,879.2.



• •The cost of imposing a maximum class size of 30 students per class for English, math, science, social science and communication skills courses for grades 7 through 12 would be $1,975.0.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

According to SDE, the Public School Reform Act, enacted in 1986, included provisions for reductions in class size and class loads for New Mexico schools. Class size requirements were phased in over several years. School districts experienced frustration with the grade class size limits placed on them at the elementary level and the lack of flexibility prompted the Legislature to address the issue in 1993. Schools were allowed to average class size limits for grades 1-3 (22 students) and grades 4-6 (24 students).

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