Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

This page contains the text of a regulation adopted by the Missouri State Board of Education.  An official copy of the full text of this regulation is contained in the Code of State Regulations, published by the Office of Secretary of State.

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Title 5 - DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
Division 50 - Division of Instruction
Chapter 390 - Children At Risk

5 CSR 50-390.010 Reductions of Pupil/Teacher Ratio for Children at Risk

PURPOSE: This rule establishes the criteria for pupil/teacher ratio reduction in schools containing high concentrations of children who are least advantaged or who have specially identified educational needs, as authorized in section 166.260 of the Outstanding Schools Act and pursuant to section 163.011(6) and Line 14 of subsection 6 of section 163.031, RSMo.

(1) Terms used in this rule are defined as follows:

(A) High concentrations of children who are least advantaged- schools that have forty percent (40%) or more of their eligible pupils on free or reduced-price lunches as reported the last Wednesday in January for the preceding school year as required by section 163.011(6), RSMo;

(B) Pupil/teacher ratio-the dividend obtained by dividing the total number of pupils enrolled in a grade(s) by the total number of pupils enrolled in grade(s) by the total full-time equivalent number of regular classroom teachers engaged in regular instruction assigned to the grade.

(C) Specially identified educational needs-students such as limited English-proficient students; migrant students; gifted students; students with disabilities or developmental delays; students who need more challenging or advanced vocational technical coursework and transitional experiences; and students who need more challenging or advanced academic coursework.

(2) To expend funds under this rule for a program to reduce class size in any class, a school must qualify as having a high concentration of children who are least advantaged or who have specially identified educational needs. The school must achieve a reduced class size in any class less than that specified as a minimal standard in the Missouri School Improvement Program.

(3) School districts that are receiving awards through the Pupil/Teacher Ratio Reduction Incentive Program authorized in section 17 of the Outstanding Schools Act and 5 CSR 50-360.010 may use Line 14 monies to supplement the excess costs of the program.

(4) Districts will be disqualified from using Line 14 monies for pupil/teacher ratio for any school in the district in any year if they-

(A) Are under a court order to reduce class sizes or pupil/teacher ratios in grades kindergarten through eight (K-8);

(B) Reduce the number of teachers in grades kindergarten through three (K-3) without a corresponding reduction in enrollment;

(C) Reduce the number of regular classroom teachers in any grade for which the district previously used Line 14 monies without a corresponding reduction in enrollment;

(D) Fail to maintain a ratio of pupils to regular classroom teachers of twenty-five to one (25:1) or less in any grade level for which the district previously used Line 14 monies;

(E) Fail to maintain a ratio of pupils to regular classroom teachers of twenty-seven to one (27:1) or less in qualifying grades in every attendance center; or

(F) Reduce the number of classroom teachers in grades four through eight (4-8) in the district.

AUTHORITY: sections 163.011(6), 163.031 and 166.260, RSMo (Cum. Supp. 1993).* Original rule filed March 25, 1994, effective Oct. 30, 1994.

*Original authority: 163.011(6), RSMo (1963), amended 1967, 1973, 1977, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1993; 163.031, RSMo (1963), amended 1965, 1965, 1967, 1967, 1969, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1993; and 166.260, RSMo (1990), amended 1993.