HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
2530
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO TEACHER TO STUDENT RATIOS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"[Underlined: §302A- ] [Underlined: Calculating student-to-teacher ratios.] [Underlined: (a) The optimal class size for department schools as determined by department policy or collective bargaining shall be calculated by the following method:]
[Underlined: (1)] [Underlined: The calculation shall be][Underlined: based on the amount of classroom teachers only and shall not include school librarians, counselors, registrars, and special education teachers, when they are not the sole classroom instructor; and ]
[Underlined: (2)] [Underlined: Schools shall calculate the student-to-teacher ratio based on the total amount of students and teachers in each classroom rather than total student school enrollment.]
[Underlined: (b) In the event that the student-to-teacher ratio cannot be met, schools must notify parents and guardians for the rationale of any changes.]
[Underlined: (c) ][Underlined: The department shall implement this policy to ensure that instructional personnel and other staff are allocated in a manner that is educationally sound, instructionally appropriate, informative to parents and guardians, consistent with available funding, and provides for an equitable teacher workload.]"
SECTION 2. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED BY:
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Report Title:
DOE; Teachers; Student-to-Teacher Ratios; Class Sizes
Description:
Requires the Board of Education and collective bargaining units to calculate student-to-teacher ratios for class sizes according to a prescribed method to promote quality education and positive student-teacher interactions. Informs parents if changes to class sizes are needed.
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