Frequently asked questions on class size rules and funding in NYC schools
What are the current class size limits? Are they set by the teacher contract?
Yes. The UFT class-size limits are as follows:
- 18 in pre-kindergarten
- 25 in kindergarten
- 32 in grades 1-6
- 30 in Title I middle schools
- 33 in non-Title I middle schools
- 34 in academic classes in high school
- 50 in physical education classes in middle and high schools
- 50 in music classes in high schools
However, the teacher or chapter leader at the school must “grieve” or complain to the DOE if class sizes exceed these levels, and the DOE sometimes takes weeks or even months to address these violations. There are also allowances having to do with "breakage," meaning that if there aren’t enough students at any grade level to form a new class that is at least half of the size allowed for that grade level, the principal can choose not to form a new class.
Can fundraising efforts pay for classroom teachers? Classroom assistants? Enrichment teachers?
Official policy has long been that PTA funds cannot be used to hire classroom teachers to reduce class size, though these funds can be used to hire enrichment teachers and/or classroom assistants. The parents in many of the wealthier schools contribute funds for "assistant teachers" in grades K and up, to work alongside regular classroom teachers. These assistants often have all the regular qualifications to become teachers except for formal certification. In some schools, their salaries come out of general PTA funds; in others, parents of children in specific grades are asked to contribute a set amount. There are schools where parents are asked to donate as much as $600- $1000 for these purposes.
For more on this, see our blog here:
What are some other sources of funding that can be used to make classes smaller?
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Title One funds (federal funds for schools with large numbers of poor students) can be used to reduce class size. By federal law, parents are supposed to have a voice in how these funds are spent. Here is a link to see how much Title One funding your school is receiving:
Title One funds (federal funds for schools with large numbers of poor students) can be used to reduce class size. By federal law, parents are supposed to have a voice in how these funds are spent. Here is a link to see how much Title One funding your school is receiving: •State funds for schools landing on the failing (SURR) list can also be used for smaller classes.
State funds for schools landing on the failing (SURR) list can also be used for smaller classes. •Early grade class size funding. The city also receives substantial state and federal funds that are supposed to be used to reduce class size in grades K-3. You can check this excel file to see if your school received these funds, and in what grades. If so, classes in these grades should be kept to twenty or less.
Early grade class size funding. The city also receives substantial state and federal funds that are supposed to be used to reduce class size in grades K-3. You can check this excel file to see if your school received these funds, and in what grades. If so, classes in these grades should be kept to twenty or less.•Contract for Excellence funding. These funds can be used at the principal’s discretion for several different categories, including class size reduction in any grade. Check out this link for a description of the various categories:
Contract for Excellence funding. These funds can be used at the principal’s discretion for several different categories, including class size reduction in any grade. Check out this link for a description of the various categories: This excel file will tell you if your principal has allocated any of these funds to reduce class size: http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/013FC76F-5E0C-471E-AF2D-265183E1D56D/41534/200809CitywideC4EPlan_SchoolSummarybyProgramStrate.xls
Unfortunately, it does not report on what grade class size is supposed to be reduced in size or to what level– a disturbing lack of transparency in a program that was supposed to provide more accountability.
In any case, we have abundant evidence that in many schools, these funds are chronically misused; and the DOE is complicit in this problem.
What is the evidence that class size funds have been misused?
According to a 2006 audit from the State comptroller, with $89 million of state funds supposed to be used to form additional classes in grades K-3, instead of 1586 additional classes, only twenty were formed – and the city instead appeared to be using these funds to pay for teachers that were already on staff:
“….we believe that the DoE’s calculations are not consistent with the Law, because DoE’s method substitutes Program funding for local funding that was used previously for early grade classes (and teachers) that existed prior to the Program’s implementation.”
Yet the DOE refused to adopt any of the State Comptroller’s recommendations to improve compliance. For the full audit, see http://www.osc.state.ny.us/audits/allaudits/093006/05n3.pdf
A memo summarizing its findings is here; http://www.classsizematters.org/auditresults2006.html
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As to the Contract for Excellence funds, which just started flowing to NYC last year, $153 million were supposed to go to reduce class size. Yet an analysis showed that in about half the schools that received these funds, class sizes did not decrease, and in about one third of them, class sizes actually increased. See http://www.uft.org/news/teacher/top/doe_refused_headway/
In truth, there is no concerted effort on the part of the DOE to ensure that any of these funds are being used appropriately. The city comptroller is supposed to be doing an audit. If you find evidence that your school is receiving class size funding and yet classes are no smaller than previously, you should email us at classsizematters@gmail.com, with confidentiality assured.
Are there any other rules limiting class size, such as space requirements?
Yes, though again, these rules are only rarely enforced. Each kindergarten student should receive at least 35 square feet of space in a class of no more than 25 students. Thus, the capacity of a 700-square-foot classroom is 20 students, and the capacity of a 1,050-square foot classroom is 25 students; a classroom more than 1,050 sq. ft. only has a capacity of 25 students, no matter how much larger it is.
For first through third graders, each student is supposed to receive 20 sq. feet, to a maximum of 25 students per class. Thus a classroom of 500 square feet or more has a capacity of 25 students.
For fourth through ninth grade, classrooms are supposed to have 20 sq. ft. per student, with no more than 31 students per room (or 29 for Title I schools). Thus a classroom of 620 square feet or more will have an official capacity of 31 students. The capacity formula also includes adjustments for room use, type of student and other factors.
What should I do if my child has larger classes than s/he should?
Join Class Size Matters, by sending us a contribution, emailing us at classsizematters@gmail.com, or calling 212-674-7320. .
Prepared by Leonie Haimson, Class Size Matters, Sept. 2008
class size matters
124 Waverly Pl.
New York, NY 10011
212-674-7320
www.classsizematters.org
classsizematters@gmail.com
