New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com

Should cutting class size be a top priority?: Yes

BY LEONIE HAIMSON

Sunday, April 30th, 2006

Smaller classes have been shown to increase student achievement, reduce disciplinary problems, lower teacher attrition and improve parent involvement. In surveys, teachers say that the best way to improve instruction is to reduce class size. A recent poll of parents and education advocates found that the overwhelming majority wanted the mayor to focus on lowering class size. Yet classes in our public schools remain the largest in the state by 10%-60%.

In the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case, the Court of Appeals concluded that our classes were too large to provide students with their right to an adequate education. But the mayor plans to spend only 2% of any money resulting from the case for smaller classes, and to lower average class size in no grade higher than third.

Meanwhile, an audit from the state controller's office just found that the city misused state funds targeted toward reducing class size, and had formed only 20 classes with $89 million. This means that each additional class cost the taxpayer $4.5 million. If city officials had actually used the money as intended, there would be only 19.1 students in grades K-3. Instead, more than 60% of these students remain in classes of 21 or above, and 26% in classes of 25 or above.

In our high schools, students are often crammed into classes of 34 or more. These huge classes directly contribute to low achievement and high dropout rates. A report from the Manhattan Institute revealed that our schools ranked third lowest in the nation in graduation rates. A national survey found that 75% of dropouts believe that if they had been given smaller classes, they would have graduated.

Last week a coalition of parents and advocates fought in court for voters to be able to decide this issue. Despite gathering more than 100,000 signatures and meeting all the legal requirements to put class size on the ballot the mayor is trying to block the effort. We believe, on the other hand, that all New Yorkers should have a voice in whether our children receive the smaller classes that they need and deserve.

Haimson is executive director of Class Size Matters.