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| SPONSOR: | Hamilton | DATE TYPED: | 1/28/00 | HB | HJM 6 | ||
| SHORT TITLE: | Smaller Learning Environments | SB | |||||
| ANALYST: | Baca | ||||||
| Recurring
or Non-Rec |
Fund
Affected | ||||
| FY00 | FY01 | FY00 | FY01 | ||
| NFI | |||||
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Relates to SJM 13
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
State Department of Education (SDE)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
House Joint Memorial 6 requests that SDE and local school boards study alternative methods of restructuring public schools and redesigning class schedules of elementary, middle and junior high schools. The memorial indicates a direct correlation between school size and violence in the schools and further suggests that instructional approaches utilizing small groups will allow for more individualized attention for students as well as improved success in school.
The memorial also requests that the SDE report its findings to the Legislative Education Study Committee no later than November 1, 2000.
Significant Issues
The SDE analysis states that methods and strategies such as family concepts, academies and alternative scheduling patterns are already in use and provide small (smaller) group settings for students.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
None anticipated. SDE can use existing staff to conduct the study. Because many schools are already using these approaches and some national research data is available, SDE staff believes a quality study can be conducted.
LB/prr:gm