SMALLER CLASS SIZES

































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Smaller Class Sizes

EPP FACT SHEET ON EARLY-GRADE
CLASS SIZE REDUCTION (CSR)

Funding Source: Federal New York State NYC Bd. of Ed.
Legislative Authorization: Title VI of ESEA 1998, 1999, & 2000 budget language. In 2001 reauthorization of ESEA, specific funding for CSR was eliminated and shifted to Title II. This change impacts the 2002-03 school year. Chapter 436, Laws of 1997. 8/97 state budget agreement; Total cost of 3-year phase-in $440 M as part of LADDER program. But funding has been negotiated each year. 3rd-year increase postponed by Governor's budget.

No city funds for personnel costs, but city must provide classroom space.
(City Council's funding for new kindergarten teachers not included in this fact sheet.)

99-00
School Year:

$1.1 B for nation.
$104.5 M to NYS.
$61.3 M to NYC.
Most funding used to hire additional teachers to help classroom teachers
(see "floating teachers" below).

$75 M for all districts.
$49.2 to NYC.

$110.52 M allocated.
30% of k-3 students and 530 schools out of 675 have benefited.
A total of 905 new classes in grades k-3 funded by state.

00-01
School Year:

$1.2 B for nation.
$113.27 M to NYS.
$66 M to NYC.
Most funding for additional teachers, not smaller classes.

$140 M for all districts.
$88 M to NYC.

$66 M fed. & $88 M state for a total of $154 M.
1,589 smaller classes now funded by the state.

01-02
School Year:

$1.6 B for nation.
$141 M to NYS.
$88 M for NYC.

$140 M for all districts, instead of $225 M, as promised per 1997 agreement. Frozen by "Bare Bones" budget.

$88 M fed. & 88 M state for a total of $176 M.
1,589 smaller classes funded by the state.

02-03
School Year:

Specific funding for CSR eliminated. Scheduled increase to $225 M but needs to be negotiated by state Legislature and Governor. If fully funded, over 2,600 state-funded smaller classes in NYC. To reduce all k-3 classes to an average of 20, an additional 2,000 new classes would have to be created.
Teacher Training, Testing, & Recruitment: 15% of funds can be used for teacher training. As of 9/00, increased to 25% & includes funds for recruiting, testing & hiring teachers. Not an allowable expenditure. BOE has used maximum allowable fed. funds for teacher training, recruiting & hiring.
Costs of Newly Created Classes: Not an allowable expenditure. Only salaries & staff development. $10,000 per new class can be used for supplies & added facilities costs (not new construction). BOE has claimed the full amount allowable. Subject to review by NYSED.
Priorities: School district allocations similar to Title 1. No priority for schools within a district. High-needs districts receive priority. Within districts, low-achieving schools must receive funding first. Uses state funds for low-achieving schools & fed. funds for all schools.
Floating Teachers: Teachers can be hired to work with one or more classes. All teachers must be fully certified. Not an allowable expenditure. New classes must be formed so as to lower average class sizes to 20 students. BOE has hired 550 floating teachers mostly in schools with overcrowding.
Grades: Priority now is k-3 & then higher grades. K-3, but 10% of funding can be used for grades 4 & up. BOE policy is to begin reductions in k & 1, but some schools total have begun at 3, contrary to best practices. BOE has used full 10% for higher grades.
Objective: Classes at an average of 18 students. State objectives may be substituted for this standard. For NYC, the goal is 20. Classes at an average of 20 students. BOE has not used most fed. funds to create smaller classes; it has been forced to do so by state funds.
Private Schools: Private schools can have access to staff development materials. N/A Complies with federal requirements.
Administrative Costs: 3% of funds can be used for administering program. N/A BOE has used maximum allowable fed. funds for administration.
Maintenance of Effort: Federal funds must not supplant state or local funds. State funds must not supplant school district funds. No federal enforcement apparent. Good state enforcement.

Educational Priorities Panel
(Last updated 8/23/01)
(Information based on Governor and New York City Board of Education estimates.)

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