Terminating parental choice programs and the Special Needs Scholarship Program, repealing the achievement gap reduction program, expanding the student achievement guarantee program, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

The expanded SAGE program established under this bill applies to all grades, from four-year-old kindergarten through grade 12.

Under the AGR program repealed in this bill, a school board must implement one or more of the following strategies in each class in each participating grade at each participating school:

1. Reduce the class size to 18 pupils or, if a classroom has at least two regular classroom teachers, to 30 pupils, and provide professional development on small group instruction.

2. Provide instructional coaching for teachers.

3. Provide one-to-one tutoring to pupils who struggle with reading or math.

Under the expanded SAGE program created in this bill, each participating school must reduce the class size of each class in the school to 18 pupils or, if a classroom has at least two regular classroom teachers, to 30 pupils. In addition, the school board must:

(a) Ensure that certain education and human services are available in each participating school.

(b) Ensure that a rigorous curriculum is provided in each participating school.

(c) Provide staff development and require professional staff accountability for staff in each participating school.

Under the AGR program repealed in this bill, DPI must pay to a school board under an AGR contract a per pupil amount determined by dividing the amount appropriated to the AGR program by the total number of pupils enrolled in a participating class. Under the expanded SAGE program created in this bill, DPI must pay $2,250 for each pupil in a participating class. Under the bill, DPI must annually adjust the per pupil payment to reflect the percentage change in the consumer price index, if that change is positive. The repeal of the AGR takes effect immediately; the bill permits school boards to enter into contracts under the expanded SAGE program in the 2018-19 school year.

Also under this bill, beginning in the 2018-19 school year, no private school may participate in a choice program unless the school was participating in the program in the 2017-18 school year. Also under the bill, no pupil may attend a private school under a choice program unless the pupil was attending that private school under the program in the 2017-18 school year.

Finally, under this bill, beginning in the 2018-19 school year, no private school may accept pupils under the SNSP unless the school was participating in the program in the 2017-18 school year, and no pupil may attend a private school under the SNSP unless the pupil was attending that private school under the program in the 2017-18 school year. Under current law, a child with a disability who meets certain eligibility criteria may receive a scholarship of $12,000 to attend a private school participating in the SNSP.