Class size reduction: Long Beach Unified School District.

Existing law allows a school district that maintains kindergarten or grades 1 to 3, inclusive, to apply to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for an apportionment to implement a K–3 Class Size Reduction Program. The purpose of the program is to ensure that instruction is received in classrooms where there are not more than 20 pupils. The Controller is required to deduct an amount equal to the amount received by the school district for class size reduction from the district's next principal apportionment or apportionments of state funds if the district does not implement its class size reduction program for all grades and classes for which it received funding. This bill would authorize the Superintendent to approve funding for the Long Beach Unified School District for the 2009–10, 2010–11, and 2011–12 school years for a class size reduction program if the class size exceeds 20 pupils, or the class is housed with another class, and specified criteria are met, including criteria relating to closures on Catalina Island resulting from the May 2007 fire and resultant debris flow hazard due to weather-related conditions. These provisions would become inoperative on July 1, 2012, and would be repealed on January 1, 2013. This bill would state the findings and declarations of the Legislature concerning the need for special legislation.