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<br />iv <br /> <br />be addressed. Given that student projections are not showing an immediate need for school <br />construction in the 10-year period, this may provide the time for both school districts to <br />commence and/or complete these projects in order to address ongoing needs. <br /> <br />Changes in Average Class Size <br />The State of North Carolina passed legislation in 2017 resulting in a decrease in class size <br />averages from 1:21 to 1:20 for kindergarten to third grade for the 2017-2018 school year. As a <br />result, both school districts experienced a decrease in capacity at the elementary school level this <br />school year. This legislation also proposed an additional decrease in class size averages from <br />1:20 to 1:17 for kindergarten to third grade for the 2018-19 school year. Due to significant <br />statewide ramifications as a result of the reduced class size averages, the North Carolina General <br />Assembly unveiled House Bill 90 which allows for a phasing-in process to address the decrease <br />in class size averages over the next four years. Based on House Bill 90, average class sizes for <br />kindergarten to third grade will face a decrease from 1:20 to 1:19 for the 2019-2020 school year, <br />1:19 to 1:18 for the 2020-21 school year, and 1:18 to 1:17 for the 2021-2022 school year. <br />Overtime the phasing-in of the 1:17 class size averages will result in a decrease in capacity of <br />approximately 660 students for CHCCS. Due to a waiver from the state, CHCCS will have an <br />additional year to plan for impacts resulting from changes in class size. OCS has begun the <br />process of adjusting average class sizes this school year in order to prepare for future reductions. <br />The SAPFO Technical Advisory Committee will continue to monitor this issue and determine <br />the need for the reconvening of the Joint Action Committee in the future. <br /> <br />Charter Schools <br />Currently, there are two Charter Schools located in the Town of Hillsborough. Eno River <br />Academy (K-12) serves 326 students and The Expedition School (K-8) serves 542 students. <br />Charter and private schools are not included as part of the SAPFO Annual Report and, as a <br />result, their membership and capacity numbers are not monitored or included in future <br />projections. SAPFO projections are used for projecting only public school construction needs. <br />However, the SAPFO Technical Advisory Committee does monitor charter and private schools <br />and their effect on student enrollment in both school districts. If a charter or private school were <br />to close and a spike were to be realized in school enrollment, the student projections would likely <br />accelerate the need for additional capacity in future years, but likely still within an appropriate <br />time for CIP planning. Charter Schools are also monitored by the Department of Public <br />Institution (DPI) which provides pupil information, based on data received from Charter Schools <br />located in Orange County, to the County for funding purposes. Although charter and private <br />schools numbers are not collected for SAPFO purposes, impacts due to enrollment at these <br />schools are accounted for in SAPFO process with the annual reporting of student membership <br />and growth rates contained in the 10-year student projections. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />13