PURPOSE: This rule establishes procedures for the orderly administration of the Pupil/Teacher Ratio Reduction Incentive Program authorized by section 17 of the Outstanding Schools Act.

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

   1. (A) Pupil/teacher ratio—the dividend obtained by dividing the total number of pupils enrolled in a grade(s) by the total fulltime equivalent number of regular classroom teachers engaged in regular instruction assigned to the grade.
   2. (B) Regular classroom teacher—a teacher who is assigned fullor part-time to providing direct, regular classroom instruction in language arts, mathematics, science or social studies or a combination of those subjects, and who holds a current, valid Missouri teaching certificate for his/her assignments; and
   3. (C) Teacher—a teacher holding a currently valid Missouri teaching certificate who is assigned fullor part-time to providing classroom instruction in any subject available to all students in any grade, kindergarten through eight (K—8).
2. (2) To receive an award during the first year of the program, school districts must have twenty-six (26) or more students enrolled in any grade level, kindergarten through three (K–3), and achieve a district wide pupil/teacher ratio of twenty-five to one (25:1) or less in one (1) or more of those grades.
3. (3) To receive an award during the second and third years of the program, school districts must have twenty-six (26) or more students enrolled in any grade level, kindergarten through three (K–3) and must employ additional regular classroom teachers to achieve a pupil/teacher ratio of twenty-five to one (25:1) or less in one (1) or more of those grades; or employ additional regular classroom teachers to further reduce the pupil/teacher ratio in one (1) or more of those grades for which a pupil/teacher ratio of twenty-five to one (25:1) or less has been previously achieved.

4. (4) School districts will be disqualified from receiving awards if they—

   1. (A) Are under a court order to reduce class sizes or pupil/teacher ratios in grades kindergarten through eight (K–8);
   2. (B) Reduce the number of teachers in grades kindergarten through three (K–3) without a corresponding reduction in enrollment;
   3. (C) Reduce the number of regular classroom teachers in any grade for which the district previously received an incentive award without a corresponding reduction in enrollment;
   4. (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 received an incentive award;
   5. (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
   6. (F) Reduce the number of classroom teachers in grades four through eight (4–8) in the district.

5. (5) Each eligible and qualifying school district will receive an amount calculated by multiplying the base teacher salary for the district by the number of additional regular classroom teachers employed to achieve a pupil/teacher ratio of twenty-five to one (25:1) or to further reduce the pupil/teacher ratio in a grade level at which a pupil/teacher ratio of twenty-five to one (25:1) or less has previously been achieved. Each district’s amount will first be ratably increased or reduced based upon the availability of appropriations; and second, adjusted to reflect the district’s relative wealth as measured by equalized assessed valuation per student in accordance with the following table:

   Percent of Ratably

District Wealth Reduced Amount

First Quartile 100% Second Quartile 90% Third Quartile 80% Fourth Quartile 70%

1. (6) For the first year of the program only, the number of additional regular classroom teachers upon which a district’s amount is based shall be computed by subtracting the number obtained by dividing the enrollment in the qualifying grades by twenty-six (26) from the current number of regular classroom teachers in the qualifying grades. 5 CSR 50-360
2. (7) Each eligible school district which intends to participate in the program shall annually, file an application with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education containing the information the department determines is essential to administering this rule. Each application must contain an assurance that the district has or will provide teachers in the qualifying grades with in service education to assist them in using instructional methods identified by research as being most effective in small classes and the amount of funds allocated under the district’s Professional Development Plan for the in service education.

AUTHORITY: section 160.550, RSMo Supp. 1993.* Original rule filed Nov. 2, 1993, effective June 6, 1994. *Original authority: 160.550, RSMo 1993.