FISCAL NOTE

Date Requested: January 12, 2023
Time Requested: 05:00 PM
Agency: Education, WV Department of
CBD Number: Version: Bill Number: Resolution Number:
2530 Introduced HB2003
CBD Subject: Education (K12)


FUND(S):

0313 – Early Literacy Program, 0317

Sources of Revenue:

General Fund N/A

Legislation creates:

Increases Existing Expenses, Creates New Program



Fiscal Note Summary


Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.


This measure will increase the costs of pre-k through grade three education due to the requirements for the implementation of a benchmark assessment/screener in grades K - 3, intensive intervention services, training for teachers in the use of the benchmark assessment/screener, comprehensive training on the science of reading and numeracy instruction, extended school day and school year programs, hiring and training additional early childhood classroom assistant teachers for 2,491 classrooms in grades 1 – 3.



Fiscal Note Detail


Effect of Proposal Fiscal Year
2023
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
2024
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation)
1. Estmated Total Cost 0 100,442,698 100,442,698
Personal Services 0 0 0
Current Expenses 0 100,442,698 100,442,698
Repairs and Alterations 0 0 0
Assets 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0
2. Estimated Total Revenues 0 0 0


Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):


Based on 2022-23 current class sizes, there are 881 pre-k classrooms, 698 kindergarten classrooms with more than 10 students, and 868 first grade, 826 second grade, and 797 third grade classrooms with more than 12 students. However, WVBE Policy 2510 includes a requirement that all pre-k classrooms and all kindergarten classrooms with more than 10 students are required to have an ECCAT; therefore, county boards of education are already employing the 1,579 ECCATs at these two grade levels using funds provided under the current statutory ratios. Only an additional 2,491 ECCAT would be required statewide in order to meet the limits under the proposed legislation for next fiscal year for 1st through 3rd grades. The bill language effectively increases the service personnel ratios under W. Va. Code §18-9A-5 to fully fund the proposed personnel statutory mandate. WVDE has calculated the ratio increase needed in order to fully fund the 2,491 additional personnel to meet the proposed mandate to be 9.82, setting the service personnel ratios as follows: Sparse - 55.50, Low - 54.92, Medium - 54.35, High - 53.79. Increasing the service personnel ratios to these levels would result in a cost to the state of $96,767,698 broken down as follows: Step 2 - Allowance for Service Personnel - $66,438,796; Step 3 - Allowance for Fixed Charges - $5,487,845; Step 6c - Allowance for Service Substitutes - $1,660,970; Retirement - $5,195,514; PEIA - $17,984,573 Total: $96,767,698 The actual cost to the state will change annually depending on student enrollment. While there may be an associated cost to be solely borne by county boards of education relating to the portion of the proposed legislation pertaining to the requirement for in-service training to be provided to ECCATs relating to their responsibilities and appropriate measures for exercising authority and control over students, the cost of implementation is indeterminable at this time. Additional funds will need to be allocated to implement an early learning reporting system for grades pre-k through third that will assess students and provide actionable data to address ELA and mathematics deficiencies. (Approximately 85,000 students at $20 per student for assessment, training of staff, and implementation $1,700,000.00) Additional funds are needed to fund the provision of comprehensive training on the science of reading and numeracy instruction, and support for students with dyslexia or dyscalculia for all teachers. These multi-day, in-depth sessions would occur during the summer months at regional locations. The cost of venues, stipends for presenters, teachers and ECCATs attending the conference and materials would cost an additional $1,375,000.00. Finally, to being the work around numeracy, hire 5 regional specialist to support the comprehensive numeracy training at $600,000 which will include salaries and travel expenses.



Memorandum


Page 11 lines 225 - 226 of the bill contains language that is contrary to Federal regulations regarding assessments. All students must take either the general or alternate assessment. Since this is an exception to retention, a possible change is, “A student with disabilities whose Individual Education Plan indicates participation in the alternate statewide summative assessment in lieu of the statewide general assessment .”



    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Sonya J. White
    Email Address: snjwhite@k12.wv.us