2005 was a busy year for Class Size Matters -- and why you should join us!
Keeping a close watch on city government
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After we gathered evidence of city’s misuse of almost $100 million in annual state class size funds, resulting in much larger class sizes in grades K-3, Speaker Miller, Councilmember Jackson and State Senator Schneiderman joined us in asking the State Comptroller for an audit. Comptroller Hevesi subsequently released a previously unknown audit, showing that the city had failed to create the additional classes claimed.
After we gathered evidence of city’s misuse of almost $100 million in annual state class size funds, resulting in much larger class sizes in grades K-3, Speaker Miller, Councilmember Jackson and State Senator Schneiderman joined us in asking the State Comptroller for an audit. Comptroller Hevesi subsequently released a previously unknown audit, showing that the city had failed to create the additional classes claimed.Pushing for voters to have a say on class size
•As part of the coalition, New Yorkers for Smaller Classes, we gathered the signatures of over 100,000 voters to put a proposition on the ballot that would require smaller classes by law. Refusing to allow voters to have a say on the matter, the Bloomberg administration is trying to bar our proposition from appearing on the ballot. We are now challenging them in court.
As part of the coalition, New Yorkers for Smaller Classes, we gathered the signatures of over 100,000 voters to put a proposition on the ballot that would require smaller classes by law. Refusing to allow voters to have a say on the matter, the Bloomberg administration is trying to bar our proposition from appearing on the ballot. We are now challenging them in court.Fighting for parental free speech
•Together with civil rights attorney Norman Siegal and the Staten Island Federation of PTAs, we protested the attempt to restrict questions that parents could ask at Community Education Council forums to those written by DOE officials. As a result, we won a reversal of this decision.
Together with civil rights attorney Norman Siegal and the Staten Island Federation of PTAs, we protested the attempt to restrict questions that parents could ask at Community Education Council forums to those written by DOE officials. As a result, we won a reversal of this decision.Working for the public’s right to know
•After we pushed for better class size reporting, the City Council passed legislation that for the first time would require that class sizes in each school be reported to the public. Starting next fall, NYC will no longer be the only district in the state that refuses to divulge this critical information.
After we pushed for better class size reporting, the City Council passed legislation that for the first time would require that class sizes in each school be reported to the public. Starting next fall, NYC will no longer be the only district in the state that refuses to divulge this critical information.And that’s just the beginning:
•We co-sponsored a survey on education issues that every major candidate for Mayor, Public Advocate, and Manhattan Borough President filled out. Their responses were widely distributed and posted on our website at www.classsizematters.org
We co-sponsored a survey on education issues that every major candidate for Mayor, Public Advocate, and Manhattan Borough President filled out. Their responses were widely distributed and posted on our website at www.classsizematters.org•We provided fact sheets and other information to parents, teachers, and other stakeholders throughout the nation, including Wisconsin, NJ, California, Pennsylvania, and Alabama, so they could more effectively work for smaller classes in their communities.
We provided fact sheets and other information to parents, teachers, and other stakeholders throughout the nation, including Wisconsin, NJ, California, Pennsylvania, and Alabama, so they could more effectively work for smaller classes in their communities.•We sent a letter to Justice DeGrasse of the CFE case, asking for more accountability in the city’s spending of these funds. The letter was signed by over 400 parents, advocates, and elected officials. We are now working to ensure that these funds are not wasted but are spent on improving classroom conditions.
We sent a letter to Justice DeGrasse of the CFE case, asking for more accountability in the city’s spending of these funds. The letter was signed by over 400 parents, advocates, and elected officials. We are now working to ensure that these funds are not wasted but are spent on improving classroom conditions.•We spoke about the importance of smaller classes before the NY State Assembly, the Hispanic Federation’s Education Conference, Queens College, and at the prestigious NYU Steinhardt School’s Education Policy Breakfast, as well as many other venues.
We spoke about the importance of smaller classes before the NY State Assembly, the Hispanic Federation’s Education Conference, Queens College, and at the prestigious NYU Steinhardt School’s Education Policy Breakfast, as well as many other venues.•We were quoted in the Daily News, NY Times, Newsday, NY Post, SI Advance, Gotham Gazette, Amsterdam News, NY Family, Metro, Our Town, and on WABC and WNBC TV. Our letters on class size were published in the NY Times and NY Sun.
We were quoted in the Daily News, NY Times, Newsday, NY Post, SI Advance, Gotham Gazette, Amsterdam News, NY Family, Metro, Our Town, and on WABC and WNBC TV. Our letters on class size were published in the NY Times and NY Sun.•But the best news of all is that, Class Size Matters finally received its tax exempt, 501(c) 3 status from the IRS!
But the best news of all is that, Class Size Matters finally received its tax exempt, 501(c) 3 status from the IRS!This means for the first time, you can make a tax-deductible contribution to Class Size Matters, so that someday soon, our children can receive the smaller classes that they need and deserve.
Since 2000, when Class Size Matters was founded, we have been a 100% volunteer organization. Nevertheless, our efforts have contributed to the prominence of this issue; a recent Newsday poll showed that class size is now the #1 education concern among NYC voters. NYU Dean Mary Brabeck calls class size the “hot issue” in education policy circles.
But we must be even more effective if we are to win the battle for smaller classes, and that cannot happen without your help.
If raise funds, we could hire staff, redesign our website and improve our outreach. We’d be able to issue reports on the city’s progress (or lack thereof) towards smaller classes, and come up with new strategies so the necessary classroom space can be more rapidly acquired. We could better accomplish our goal to require more accountability and transparency on the part of the Department of Education – and ensure that our children are provided with a better chance to learn.
Please consider becoming a member; in return, you will receive your own Class Size Matters button. Even more importantly, when NYC children finally receive their right to smaller classes, you will know that you were a part of making this happen!
Just fill out the membership form here, or below.
Wishing you and yours the best this holiday season,
Leonie Haimson
Executive Director, Class Size Matters
Say YES to smaller classes!
Join CLASS SIZE MATTERS so our children have a better chance to learn.
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Send your fully tax-deductible contribution to: Class Size Matters, 124 Waverly Pl., New York, NY 10011
