COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
OVERSIGHT DIVISION
FISCAL NOTE
L.R. No.: 2178-01
Bill No.: SB 616
Subject: Education, Elementary and Secondary: Reading Instruction
Type: Original
Date: March 7, 2001
FISCAL SUMMARY
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2002 | FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| General Revenue | $0 | $0 | ($902,296) |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All State Funds |
$0 | $0 | ($902,296) |
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2002 | FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All Federal Funds |
$0 | $0 | $0 |
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2002 | FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| School Districts | (Unknown) | (Unknown) | (Unknown) |
Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses.
This fiscal note contains 4 pages.
ASSUMPTION
Officials from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) assume in-service materials development would begin in FY 2004, and in-service costs for currently certified teachers would begin in FY 2005. They also assume they would need a Director and a Program Specialist II ($29,136) beginning in FY 2004.
The Department would amend certification standards to include requirements included in this proposal. Costs for new test development are estimated at $250,000 per test for two new tests; $250,000 for developing a constructive response test. (They also note that they will need to develop new tests again in three to five years.)
In service costs were estimated as follows:
67,000 x 33% Kindergarten - Third Grade staff = 22,110 teachers requiring training
22,110 teachers x $75 per day x 5 days of training = $8,291,250
22,110 teachers x $100 training materials = $2,210,000
22,110 teachers x $50 food costs = $1,105,000
22,110 substitute teachers x $50 per day x 5 days = $5,527,500
Travel for teachers and trainers (mileage, room) = 8,840,000
Trainer fees (cluster of 24 at $5,000 per week) = 4,604,200
Total costs $30,577,950 x 9% inflation = $33,329,966 estimate costs for FY 2005.
DESE assumes fiscal impact to public school districts would be for notifying parents of methods used to teach reading in Kindergarten through Third Grade. However, testing fees would be assessed to teachers. Competency tests of $65 each x 3,200 in-state applicants and 1,500 out-of-state applicants = $305,500, beginning in FY 2006, when all teachers who teach reading as a specialist or in a classroom must pass competency tests in phonics instruction.
Although the costs for in-service training would not occur until after the scope of the fiscal note, Oversight assumes that only reading teachers would need to be trained, about 3,200 teachers. Total costs, using the Department's other assumptions concerning costs would be $4,823,876.
| FISCAL IMPACT - State Government | FY 2002
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| GENERAL REVENUE FUND | |||
| Cost - Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DES) | |||
| Personal Service (2 FTE) | $0 | $0 | ($102,081) |
| Fringe Benefits | $0 | $0 | ($31,390) |
| Expense and Equipment | $0 | $0 | ($18,825) |
| Test Development | $0 | $0 | ($750,000) |
| Costs to DES | $0 | $0 | ($902,296) |
| ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON GENERAL REVENUE FUND | $0 | $0 | ($902,296) |
| FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government | FY 2002
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2003 | FY 2004 |
| SCHOOL DISTRICTS | |||
| Cost - Informing Parents of Reading Instruction Methods and Materials | (Unknown) | (Unknown) | (Unknown) |
| ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON SCHOOL DISTRICTS | (Unknown) | (Unknown) | (Unknown) |
FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business
No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.
DESCRIPTION
The proposal would create the Reading Instruction Act to ensure that all public schools provide developmentally appropriate phonics instruction in grades K-3 as a significant component of a program of balance reading instruction and that all teachers who teach reading in grades K-3 receive adequate training in teaching developmentally appropriate phonics.
By July 1, 2004, the State Board of Education would establish a teacher competency test or tests in grammar and developmentally appropriate phonics instruction. The State Board would provide in-service training programs for teachers on the use of developmentally appropriate phonics.
On and after July 1, 2005, no teacher would be certified to teach reading in the public schools in grades K-3 unless the teacher has passed a competency test established by the State Board on grammar and developmentally appropriate phonics.
This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other program and would not require additional capital improvements or rental space. The proposal would not affect Total State Revenue.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Jeanne Jarrett, CPA
Director
March 7, 2001