DAR File No. 38622

Education, Administration

Rule R277-463

Class Size Average and Pupil-Teacher Ratio Reporting

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 38622
Filed: 06/16/2014 04:05:31 PM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

Rule R277-463 is amended to update terminology.

Summary of the rule or change:

The amendments to Rule R277-463 change "'ESL' means English as a Second Language" to "'EL' means English Learner" and update definitions for consistency with other Utah State Board of Education administrative rules.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Subsection 53A-1-401(3)
• Section 53A-1-301
• Section 53A-3-602.5

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

The amendments to Rule R277-463 update terminology which likely will not result in a cost or savings to state government.

local governments:

The amendments to Rule R277-463 update terminology which likely will not result in a cost or savings to local government.

small businesses:

The amendments to Rule R277-463 update terminology which likely will not result in a cost or savings to small businesses.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

The amendments to Rule R277-463 update terminology which likely will not result in a cost or savings to persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local government entities.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

The amendments to Rule R277-463 update terminology which likely will not result in any compliance costs for affected persons.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

I have reviewed this rule and I believe that there is likely no fiscal impact on businesses.

Martell Menlove, State Superintendent

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Education
Administration
250 E 500 S
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111-3272

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Carol Lear at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7835, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at [email protected]

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

07/31/2014

This rule may become effective on:

08/07/2014

Authorized by:

Carol Lear, Director, School Law and Legislation

R277. Education, Administration.

R277-463. Class Size Average and Pupil-Teacher Ratio Reporting.

R277-463-1. Definitions.

A. "Board" means the Utah State Board of Education.

B. "Course" means the subject matter taught to students.

(1) Elementary courses are designated by grade level.

(2) Secondary courses are determined by course content.

C. "E[S]L" means English [as a Second Language]Learner.

D. "Individual class" means a group of students organized for instruction and assigned to one or more teachers or other staff members for a designated time period. A class may include students from multiple grades or may include students taking multiple courses and still shall be considered a single class for purposes of class size reporting. An individual class shall be determined from course data submitted to the USOE using a combination of course elements such as CACTUS identification number, teacher of record, class period, term of student enrollment, and course cycle.

E. "LEA" means a local education agency, including local school boards/public school district or charter school.

F. "Pupil" means a student enrolled in a public school as of October 1 of the reported school year.

G. "Teacher" for purposes of this rule means a full-time equivalent licensed educator, such as a regular classroom teacher, a school-based specialist, and a special education teacher.

H. "USOE" means the Utah State Office of Education.

 

R277-463-2. Authority and Purpose.

A. This rule is authorized by Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3 which places general control and supervision of the public school system under the Board, Section 53A-1-301 which directs the Board to report average class sizes and pupil-teacher ratios, Section 53A-3-602.5 which directs the Board to establish rules for uniform class size reporting, and Section 53A-1-401(3) which allows the Board to adopt rules in accordance with its responsibilities.

B. The purpose of this rule is to establish uniform class size and pupil-teacher ratio reporting procedures, including definitions and codes.

 

R277-463-3. Class Size Average for Elementary Classes.

A. LEAs shall report student level course data providing sufficient course information to determine the number of students in individual classes. Classes with students in multiple grades shall be calculated as one class. Extended day classes in which one portion of the class arrives early and the other portion stays late will be calculated as one class.

B. Average class size shall be calculated by grade. Special education, E[S]L, online, and other non-traditional classes shall be excluded from class size average calculations.

C. State- and district-level class sizes shall be derived from the median of school-level class sizes.

 

R277-463-4. Class Size Average for Secondary Classes.

A. LEAs shall report student level course data providing sufficient course information to determine the number of students in individual classes. Classes including students enrolled in multiple courses shall be calculated as one class.

B. Average class size shall be calculated for core language arts, mathematics, and science courses. Special education, E[S]L, online, and other non-traditional classes will be excluded from class size averages.

C. State- and district-level class sizes shall be derived from taking the median of school-level class sizes.

 

R277-463-5. Pupil-Teacher Ratio Calculation.

A. Pupil-teacher ratios shall be calculated by school. The pupil-teacher ratio for each school shall be calculated by dividing the number of enrolled pupils by the number of full-time equivalent teachers assigned to the school.

B. District-level ratios shall be derived by taking the median of school-level ratios.

C. State-level ratios for charter schools and traditional schools shall be derived from taking the median of school-level [ratios]data.

 

R277-463-6. Reporting Format and Timeline.

School, district and state-level ratios and class size averages shall be reported to the public as required under Section 53A-1-301.

 

KEY: public schools, enrollment reporting, class size average reporting, pupil-teacher ratio reporting

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [August 9, 2010]2014

Notice of Continuation: June 10, 2014

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3; 53A-1-301; 53A-3-602.5; 53A-1-401(3)