LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY OFFICE OF FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT LS 7434 NOTE PREPARED: Jan 7, 2025 BILL NUMBER: HB 1634 BILL AMENDED: SUBJECT: Math Education. FIRST AUTHOR: Rep. Teshka BILL STATUS: As Introduced FIRST SPONSOR: FUNDS AFFECTED:XGENERAL IMPACT: State & Local DEDICATED FEDERAL Summary of Legislation: This bill requires each school corporation and charter middle school to automatically enroll a student who meets certain conditions in a middle school advanced math course. The bill allows a parent of a student to opt out of automatic enrollment. It allows a parent of a student who does not meet the conditions for automatic enrollment to opt the student into a middle school advanced math course. It also establishes requirements regarding: (1) Mathematics screening, evaluation, and intervention; and (2) Teacher preparation program math curriculum and content. Effective Date: July 1, 2025. Explanation of State Expenditures: Math Screener: Provisions in the bill require all public schools, state accredited nonpublic schools, and schools eligible to participate in the Choice Scholarship Program, to provide a math screener for their kindergarten through second grade students. If the state is responsible to cover costs associated with providing the screener, annual state expenditures are estimated to increase by $66,000. The Department of Education (DOE) will also experience a workload increase to develop certain guidance. Teacher Preparation Programs: The bill requires DOE to revise the guidelines concerning the curriculum used by accredited teacher preparation programs to prepare teacher candidates on elementary level math instruction. This represents a workload increase for DOE and state educational institutions (SEIs) if an SEI’s teacher preparation program is required to update existing curriculum. [SEIs receive state funding through General Fund appropriations.] Improvement Plans: The bill’s provisions require DOE to conduct a review of accredited teacher preparation programs. This may increase the number of improvement plans the Commission on Higher Education (CHE) is required to help develop. This represents a workload increase for these agencies. To the extent that SEIs are required to develop an improvement plan with CHE, SEI workload will also increase to develop and adhere to the improvement plan. HB 1634 1 Additional Information - Math Screener: There were an estimated 245,000 students who would have been required to take a math screener in FY 2025. Current statute requires second grade students attending a public school, state accredited nonpublic school, or a school eligible to participate in the Choice Scholarship Program, to take the IREAD assessment. This cost is approximately $308,000 in FY 2025 for approximately 83,000 second grade students. Explanation of State Revenues: Explanation of Local Expenditures: Math Screener: Annual statewide public school expenditures are estimated to increase by $59,000 if schools are responsible for paying the costs associated with providing a math screener. [There was an estimated 220,000 public school students who would have been required to take a math screener in FY 2025.] Public schools will also experience an expenditure and/or workload increase to provide math related intervention for students who are not proficient in math. Explanation of Local Revenues: State Agencies Affected: Department of Education; Commission on Higher Education; state educational institutions. Local Agencies Affected: Public schools. Information Sources: Department of Education; LSA Education Database. Fiscal Analyst: Kelan Fong, 317-232-9592. HB 1634 2