S257 - Appropriations Act of 2017. (SL 2017-57)

Overview: Sec. 7.5 of S.L. 2017-57 repeals a provision from the 2016 Appropriations Act that allowed local school administrative units (LEAs) receiving grants from the Teacher Compensation Models and Advanced Teaching Roles Pilot Program (Program) to exceed the maximum class size requirements for kindergarten through third grade. However, under this section, the LEAs receiving the grants may allow a certain number of schools that were identified in the LEAs' proposals for the Program to exceed individual class size requirements in kindergarten through third grade for the duration of the Program. In addition, schools participating in Project Lift in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and schools participating in R:3 Career Pathways Program in Pitt County Schools may also exceed individual class size requirements in kindergarten through third grade for the duration of the program.

This section also provides that class size requirements for kindergarten through third grade do not apply to dual language immersion classes which are defined as classes where (i) at least one-third of the students' dominant language is English and (ii) instruction involves both English and a target foreign language with a minimum of 50% of core content taught in the target foreign language.

This section became effective July 1, 2017. The exemption for LEAs participating in the Program expires June 30, 2020. The exemption for dual language immersion classes applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.