Class size: why is it important? And what has happened citywide and in the Bronx? Bronx borough education forum October 15, 2011 Leonie Haimson, Class Size Matters

Class size: critical determinant of student success Class size reduction one of four reforms proven to work through rigorous evidence, acc. to Inst. Education Sciences, research arm of US Ed Dept. * Benefits especially large for disadvantaged & minority students, very effective at narrowing the achievement gap. NYC schools have largest class sizes in state. in 2003, NY’s highest court said NYC students were denied constitutional right to adequate education as a result of excessive class sizes (Campaign for Fiscal Equity decision). *Other three K-12 evidence-based reforms, are one-on-one tutoring by qualified tutors for at-risk readers in grades 1-3, Life-Skills training for junior high students, and instruction for early readers in phonemic awareness and phonics.

How do smaller classes work? Teachers can give more individual help & support to students in and out of class; Students are more engaged in classroom activities; more able to discuss ideas & debate Disciplinary referrals fall sharply Students feel like their teachers “care” about their success Can focus on critical thinking rather than rote learning.

Principals and parents know its importance 86% of NYC principals say cannot provide a quality education because of excessive class sizes. Smaller classes are top priority of NYC parents on DOE learning environment surveys every year. In 2007, state passed Contracts for excellence law requiring NYC to reduce class size in all grades.

But class sizes have risen sharply in all grades since 2007…esp. in K-3; now largest in 11 yrs! Class size data for available Nov. 15 at

But class sizes have gone up instead….esp. in grades K-3 Class size data for available Nov. 15 at

Also in grades 4-8, class sizes have increased

Also in HS: average class sizes vs. C4E goals

But Bronx has the largest Kindergartens

% Kindergartens with 25 students or more by district

Why is this so damaging? Studies show that class size in Kindergarten has a significant effect later in life. Children who are in small classes in K more likely to go to college, own their own home and have a 401K3 more than 20 years later. * So what should you do? Check out the class size data by school, at Also check out results of Learning Environment Survey on each school’s DOE website. Questions or to join newsletter list, us at *Raj Chetty et al. “How Does Your Kindergarten Classroom Affect Your Earnings? Evidence from Project Star,” NBER Working Paper 16381

Contractual limits vs. C4E class size goals UFT Contract limits C4E Class Size goals by 2011 Kindergarten grades (Title 1 Schools) (Non-Title 1) (Title 1 Schools) (Non-Title 1) (core classes)

NYC Building code for classroom space Requires 35 Sq. ft. per Kindergarten student, 20 Sq. ft. per student in grades 1-12 DOE’s “instructional footprint” redefined full size classroom downward with minimum 500 sq. ft. 500 sq. ft. legally holds only 14 Kindergarten students, 25 students in grades 1 st -12 th. Sq. footage of each room listed in Annual Facilities survey on every school’s DOE website.