What Will I-1351 Do?

BALLOTPEDIA:

Washington Class Size Reduction Measure, Initiative 1351 (2014)

The Washington Class Size Reduction Measure, Initiative 1351 is on the November 4, 2014 statewide ballot in Washington as an Initiative to the People.

If approved by voters, the measure would require fewer students per classroom in grades K-12. For kindergarten through third grade, each class would have no more than 15 to 17 students. In grades 4 through 12, each class would have no more than 22 to 25 students. Implementing these size restrictions would require the hiring of approximately 15,000 new teachers.[1][2]

The measure would also:[3]

“•Require “funding allocated in the 2015-2017 biennium to be no less than 50 percent of the difference between funding as of September 1, 2013, and the funding necessary to support the new statutory class size and staffing allocations”

“•Require full funding of the new statutory class size and staffing allocations by the end of the 2017-2019 biennium”

“•Limit state funding for the new prototypical class sizes to funding that is proportionate to a school district’s demonstrated actual average class size”

“•Permit school districts that demonstrate capital facility needs that prevent class size reductions to use class size reduction funding for school-based personnel who provided direct services to students”

If approved, the measure would be phased in over the course of four years. The changes would be applied first at high poverty schools, defined as schools with 50 percent of students receiving free or reduced cost lunches.[4]

Some have argued that class size is not the only issue on the line if this initiative is approved. An editorial in The Seattle Times stated, “The debate is only partly about class sizes — it is really about who calls the shots on state education spending.”[5][4]

References

[1] HeraldNet.com, “Backers of smaller class size work on ballot measure,” April 7, 2014

[2] Washington Secretary of State, “Proposed Initiatives to the People - 2014,” accessed June 7, 2014

[3]Washington Legislature, “Summary of Initiative 1351,” August 12, 2014

[4] KIROTV.com, “Initiative to reduce class sizes would cost billions, no funding plan proposed,” April 8, 2014

[5]Seattle Times, “Editorial: Initiative 1351 aims to corner Legislature on K-12,” April 12, 2014

http://ballotpedia.org/Washington_Class_Size_Reduction_Measure,_Initiative_1351_(2014)