Advocates: DOE Can Cut Classes In 150 Schools

By MEREDITH KOLODNER

More than 150 low-performing city schools could reduce class size immediately by hiring more Teachers and utilizing existing classroom space, according to a study released last week by an education advocacy group.

RANDI WEINGARTEN: 'This shows it's possible.'

The Campaign for Fiscal Equity, which launched the lawsuit 13 years ago that led to a massive increase in state education funding this year for the city and other high-needs school districts, used city data to determine that the Department of Education could better use its existing budget to reduce class size in the 408 schools identified by the state as needing improvement.

'Not Pie in the Sky'

"Once again, when people say it's impossible, this shows that it's possible," said United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten at a Nov. 27 press conference. "This is not pie-in-the-sky wishful thinking. The space is there. We're calling on the Department of Education to do this right now."

The city recently received approval to spend $153 million in state funding for class-size reduction. The report's authors said that 23 of the 152 schools that could reduce class size immediately are not receiving any of the new class-size reduction money. They noted, however, the significant shift from the city's original proposal to the state in July, when fully 2/3 of the 152 schools, a total of 101, were not receiving the funds.

GERI PALAST: 'Now is time to act.'

The study argues that class size for kindergarten through fifth grade should be capped at 20 students, sixth through eighth-grade should have no more than 23 students, and high school classes should not rise beyond 24 students. To reach those goals, the city's lowest-performing schools would need to add 2,522 classrooms. The majority of those either already exist or are being built through the city's Capital Plan, but 866 classrooms would need to be added in order to reach the overall goal, according to the report.

DOE: Already Doing It

DOE officials responded that they had already hired more than 1,300 new Teachers and created 925 classrooms this year. "We are happy to consider the recommendations in the report as we receive additional [state] Contracts for Excellence monies," said DOE spokeswoman Debra Wexler in a statement.

The reports' authors asserted that the information was intended to push the city at a crucial time, while taking into account existing capacity and funding. "Now, as New York City must develop the initial phase of the state-required five-year class-size reduction plan, is the right time to consider these recommendations," said Geri D. Palast, the executive director of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity.

President of the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators Ernest Logan said that a safe and nurturing learning environment was a top priority for his members and that class reduction could only be achieved through renovations and new construction. "The CFE recognizes this and has done a wonderful job laying out a roadmap of specific and thoughtful recommendations for some of our high-needs schools," he said in a statement. "I urge the DOE to consider these proposals."

The CFE lawsuit led to $700 million in additional state education funding for the city this year, with that amount to be increased over the next four years. About $258 million of that money was subject to state approval focused on five educational priorities, including class size.