SACRAMENTO — The Senate Education Committee on Wednesday passed a bill by state Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) that provides additional funding to school districts and charter schools that meet the student-to-teacher ratio of 20 to one.

Senate Bill 1431 will allow students to receive more critical individualized attention and interaction with teachers by incentivizing local education agencies to lower the student-to-teacher ratio to 20:1 within Kindergarten to third (K-3) grade classrooms.

“As a public school teacher for 17 years, I know firsthand how difficult it can be in large classes to give each child the attention they deserve,” said Sen. Susan Rubio. “California is behind the nation when it comes to the number of students per teacher. Some classes have over 30 students, and California class size is higher than the national average. Every child learns differently, and SB 1431 will allow teachers to meet a student’s academic and personal needs.”

Princeton University published research stating that students who participated in California's CSR program performed better than students who remained in larger classes; these effects were even greater among lower-income and students of color.

Studies also found that California fourth-graders’ National Assessment of Educational Progress test scores in mathematics increased slightly between 1996 and 2000.

In addition, students who were in CSR classrooms were shown to have better outcomes in contrast to their peers in non-CSR as it pertained to juvenile criminal behavior, teen pregnancy, high school graduation, and college enrollment and completion.

SB 1431 amends the Education Code Section 42238.02 by adding an incentive for school districts and charter schools to receive additional funding, an adjustment of 32.5% of the base grant, if they maintain an average class enrollment of no more than 20 students for grades K-3.

This bill is now headed to the Senate Appropriations committee.