COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH

OVERSIGHT DIVISION

FISCAL NOTE

L.R. No.:         0321-01

Bill No.:          SB 21

Subject:           Education, Elementary and Secondary; St Louis

Type:              Original

Date:               January 31, 2011

Bill Summary:            This proposal requires kindergarten attendance at the start of the school year for children who turn age five at any time during the calendar year.

FISCAL SUMMARY

*Offsetting Transfers In and Out are $92,946,403 for FY 12.

Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses. This fiscal note contains 7 pages.

☒ Estimated Total Net Effect on All funds expected to exceed $100,000 savings or (cost).

☐ Estimated Net Effect on General Revenue Fund expected to exceed $100,000 (cost).

FISCAL ANALYSIS

ASSUMPTION

For this proposal, officials from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) looked at the number of children currently enrolled in kindergarten with birthdays occurring August 1st through December 31st. 

This represents the potential cost for the eligible pool of students. Not knowing the number of students that would take advantage of this, an exact amount cannot be determined. This would appear to be a one-time bump in cost which will level out as those children continue in school.

In addition, this proposal allows the parent to request an assessment to determine readiness of the child. The potential costs of the assessments cannot be estimated, but would continue to be an unknown cost year after year for the local school districts. 

A response was not received from the Department of Social Services; however, based on responses that dealt with the St Louis Public School Districts only (SB 124 FN 0637-01) and (SB 20 FN 0079-01), Oversight assumes costs associated with educational neglect cases would be (Unknown - Exceeds $100,000). Oversight also assumes day care savings would be Unknown - Exceeds $100,000. 

Officials from the Special School District of St Louis County assume that this proposed legislation will not cause a conflict with early childhood special education which allows students who turn five during the year to remain in early childhood special education. Otherwise, this proposal will not have a fiscal impact on the Special School District.

Officials from the Parkway School District assume this proposal would cost their district approximately $1.5 million due to the additional number of teachers for students whose birthdays are in August through December who would not otherwise be enrolling with the current August 1 cutoff date.

Officials from the Fair Grove R-X School District state that for growing districts this proposal will increase class sizes. To make this change will cost districts to increase staff and possibly

add on classroom space.

ASSUMPTION (continued)

Official from the Blue Springs School District assume this proposal would cost their district approximately $1 million annually for additional staff and testing. It would also require additional classroom construction to accommodate the influx of students.

Officials from the St Louis Public School District assume there would be a cost to the district for manpower for the assessment procedures.

FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business 

This legislation may impact some child care providers who provide care for children enrolled in half day kindergarten for the other half of the parent's work day. These providers will no longer be providing care for the children identified in this proposal, the cost of which often helps balance out the higher cost of providing care for the younger children. Child care businesses would see a decrease in enrollment.

FISCAL DESCRIPTION

This proposal requires any child who attains the age of five at any time during the calendar year be enrolled in kindergarten at the beginning of the school year in that calendar year. The parent or guardian of any child who will attain the age of five in the subsequent calendar year may request that the child's school district of residence conduct an assessment program to determine the child's readiness for kindergarten. If the school district determines that the child is ready, he or she may begin kindergarten.

This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other program and would not require additional capital improvements or rental space.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Department of Social Services

School Districts

            St Louis Public School District

            Blue Springs

            Fair Grove R-X

            Parkway

            Special School District of St Louis County

                                                                                                Mickey Wilson, CPA

                                                                                                Director

                                                                                                January 31, 2011