COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
OVERSIGHT DIVISION
FISCAL NOTE
L.R. NO.: 4056-01
BILL NO.: SB 875
SUBJECT: Education, Higher: English Fluency
TYPE: Original
DATE: February 8, 2000
FISCAL SUMMARY
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2001 | FY 2002 | FY 2003 |
| General Revenue | ($2,145,375) | ($200,700) | ($200,700) |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All State Funds |
($2,145,375) | ($200,700) | ($200,700) |
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2001 | FY 2002 | FY 2003 |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All Federal Funds |
$0 | $0 | $0 |
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2001 | FY 2002 | FY 2003 |
| Local Government | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses.
This fiscal note contains 5 pages.
ASSUMPTION
Officials from Harris-Stowe State College, Moberly Area Community College, Missouri Western State College, Central Missouri State University assume the proposal would result in no fiscal impact to the institutions.
Officials from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) assume the proposal would result in no fiscal impact to DESE or local public school districts.
Officials from the University of Missouri assume this legislation would apply to 4,278 instructors at the university. Using the TOEFL test, including the additional portion would cost approximately $225 per person, for a total of $962,550.
Officials from Truman State University estimate the cost to implement the proposal would be $8,750 for personal services plus $7,500 for annual operating costs, for a total of $16,250 per year.
Officials from Southwest Missouri State University assume the proposal would cost $10,000 annually.
Officials from Jefferson College assume the proposal would cost approximately $10,000 annually.
Officials from the Coordinating Board For Higher Education (CBHE) assume the bill requires a national test of oral, aural, and written English fluency. There is no single national test that addresses all three of these areas. The only national test that specifically addresses aural and written fluency is the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). According to the national administrator of the TOEFL, Educational Testing Services (ETS), the fee for taking the TOEFL is $100. The most recent statewide statistics indicate that there are 8,230 faculty members in Missouri public institutions. Additionally there are 1,605 graduate teaching assistants (GTAs), of which, it is estimated that approximately 300 are required to submit TOEFL scores as a condition of admission. To test each instructional faculty member who has not taken the TOEFL, as mandated by the bill, would create a fiscal impact of:
9,535 (8,230 + 1,605 - 300) x $100 = $953,500.
ASSUMPTION (continued)
The bill also requires every instructional faculty member to be tested for oral fluency. The TOEFL does not test oral fluency. The national test of oral English proficiency is the Test of Spoken English (TSE). According to the national administrator of the TSE, Educational Testing Services (ETS), the fee for taking the TSE is $125. To test all faculty members and GTAs, as mandated by the bill, for oral proficiency would result in a fiscal impact of:
9,535 x $125 = $1,191,875.
These costs would continue to the extent that there is faculty turnover and GTA turnover. It is estimated that faculty turnover is approximately 5% on a statewide basis, resulting in a total of 410 (8,230 x .05) annual faculty TOEFL and TSE takers. GTA turnover is approximately 30%, resulting in a total of 482 (1,605 x .30) annual GTA TOEFL and TSE takers. This would result in yearly costs of:
892 (410 + 482) x $225 = $200,700.
Each of these costs would increase if the cost of one or both tests increases.
This bill would not likely impose an administrative impact on the CBHE, although there would be additional costs to the institutions involved beyond the cost of the tests. In Missouri, the TOEFL and TSE are currently administered at the following sites: Ballwin, Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Creve Coeur, Gladstone, Jefferson City, Kansas City, Springfield, and St. Joseph. This would require travel to take the mandated tests for all faculty and GTAs at the following public institutions: Central Missouri State (Warrensburg), Crowder College (Neosho), East Central College (Union), Jefferson College (Hillsboro), Linn State Technical College (Linn), Mineral Area College (Park Hills), Missouri Southern (Joplin), Moberly Area Community College (Moberly), North Central College (Trenton), Northwest Missouri State (Maryville), Southwest Missouri State University at West Plains (West Plains), State Fair Community College (Sedalia), Three Rivers Community College (Poplar Bluff), and Truman State (Kirksville).
These institutions account for 1,774 faculty members and 109 GTAs. Travel expenses for each institution will vary but could be significant in cases where the distance to a testing center is in excess of 100 miles.
ASSUMPTION (continued)
The timing of the fiscal impact is not clear. The bill requires all institutions to certify all instructors "on or before September first of each school year...." This would most likely indicate the fiscal impact in FY 2001. However the CBHE may promulgate rules as late as April 1, 2001, which could indicate the fiscal impact in FY 2002. Regardless, for the purpose of clarity the fiscal impacts are included beginning in FY 2001.
The Oversight Division assumes the travel costs related to the tests could be absorbed by the educational institutions.
| FISCAL IMPACT - State Government | FY 2001
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2002 | FY 2003 |
| GENERAL REVENUE FUND | |||
| Cost-Educational Institutions | |||
| Testing | ($2,145,375) | ($200,700) | ($200,700) |
| FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government | FY 2001
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2002 | FY 2003 |
| $0 | $0 | $0 |
FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business
No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.
DESCRIPTION
The proposal would require each state educational institution to evaluate each member of its instructional faculty for oral, aural and written fluency in the English language in the classroom, as determined by a national test approved by CBHE.
Each school year each state educational institution would be required to provide in writing to CBHE certification that all instructional faculty members of the institution have been evaluated for classroom English fluency. Institutions in violation would have state aid reduced by ten thousand dollars for each course taught in violation of this proposal.
The CBHE would be required to promulgate rules by April 1, 2001, to administer and enforce the proposal.
DESCRIPTION (Continued)
This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other program and would not require additional capital improvements or rental space.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Coordinating Board For Higher Education
Central Missouri State University
Southwest Missouri State University
Missouri Western State College
Harris-Stowe State College
University of Missouri
Truman State University
Jefferson College
Moberly Area Community College
Jeanne Jarrett, CPA
Director
February 8, 2000