1. Leonie Haimson, Class Size Matters Feb. 11, 2015
HOW DOE’s Proposed CAPITAL plan will Lead to Worse Overcrowding & larger classes In D8
Leonie Haimson, Class Size Matters
Feb. 11, 2015

2. D8 ES buildings are over-utilized and above citywide average
*Calculated by dividing building enrollment by the target capacity
Source: DOE Blue Book

3. 14 ES and MS buildings above 100% in D8 1,061 seats needed to reduce building utilization to 100%
Source: DOE Blue Book

4. These estimates Do NOT include the following:
Do not include 4900 seats added last Feb still undetermined as to district and/or grade level.
Do not include need to address neighborhood overcrowding;
Do not include need to eliminate Kindergarten wait lists;
Do not include expanded preK or reduced class size;
Do not include need to eliminate trailers;
Do not include schools regaining lost cluster rooms and/or space for students with disabilities to receive their mandated services.

5. TCUs in District 8
Latest DOE TCU report from showed 8 TCUs with 18 classrooms at PS 14, PS 71, PS 119, and PS 138, with a reported enrollment of at least 385 students.
These included 4 Kindergarten classes at PS 14 with class sizes of 25 in units/rooms with capacity of 15;
5 Kindergarten classes at PS 71 with class sizes of 25 in units/rooms with a capacity of 16 and one special education class of 12
4 Kindergarten classes at PS 119 with 25 children in unit/classrooms with a capacity of 17.
4 special ed classes at PS 138
None of these TCUs have an identified removal plan according to Nov cap plan.
8 TCUs with 12 classrooms at PS already removed according to capital plan & 2 more planned to be removed. According to Blue Book, this would push building o 111% (and perhaps more since only report 16 for enrollment in these 12 classrooms)

6. 16 Bronx High Schools Above 100% 2,413 HS seats needed to reduce building utilization rate to 100%
Source: DOE Blue Book

7. “Renewal” Schools in D8 and Bronx HS
94 schools on DOE’s renewal list of struggling schools threatened with closure if not improved.
In D8 there are 5 schools; 3 with class sizes as large as 30 or more: JHS 123, JHS 162, Bronx Mathematics Preparatory and Hunts Point.
At MS 301 class sizes as large as 36 in 8th grade.
13 Bronx renewal HS have at least 2 classes of 30 students or more, including New Explorers HS ( 44 for social studies) Bronx HS of Business (38 for math), Lehman HS & Clinton HS (36 for English).
DOE claims in “public comment summary” that in its C4E class size reduction plan it “will now focus on the 94 schools in the Renewal Program” but don’t see class size mentioned elsewhere.

8. Capital plan has fewer than 1/5 of the seats in D8 just to address future enrollment K-8 of projected additional 2660 students – nothing to alleviate current overcrowding
*Does not include 4,900 seat as yet unsited and undetermined location and/or grade level seats
**Estimated Total Added Enrollment= Averaged DOE Enrollment Projections + Housing Starts Estimated Growth

9. Bronx HS Enrollment Projections of additional 5,276 students but NO seats in Capital Plan to address need
*Does not include 4,900 seat as yet unsited and undetermined location and/or grade level seats
**Estimated Total Added Enrollment= Averaged DOE Enrollment Projections + Housing Starts Estimated Growth

10. Citywide capital plan has 1/3 seats just to address projected K-8 enrollment increases of more than 84,000 students
*Statistical Forecasting does not include D75 students; K-8 Seats in Capital Plan are categorized as Small PS and PS/IS and includes 4,900 seats for class size reduction if Bond issue passes.
Source for Housing Starts: NYSCA Projected New Housing Starts , Projected public school ratio,
*Does not include 4,900 seat as yet unsited and undetermined location and/or grade level seats
**Estimated Total Added Enrollment= Averaged DOE Enrollment Projections + Housing Starts Estimated Growth

11. Citywide capital plan has one tenth of seats needed just to address projected HS enrollment increases of more than 32,000 students
*Statistical Forecasting does not include D75 students; HS Seats in Capital Plan are categorized as IS/HS and does not include seats for class size reduction
Source for Housing Starts: NYSCA Projected New Housing Starts , Projected public school ratio,
*Does not include 4,900 seat as yet unsited and undetermined location and/or grade level seats
**Estimated Total Added Enrollment= Averaged DOE Enrollment Projections + Housing Starts Estimated Growth

12. Source: 2013-2014 DOE “Blue Book”
This doesn’t include at least 32,000 seats currently needed to bring down to 100% in districts averaging over 100% -including in D8
*These figures are the difference between capacity & enrollment in the organizational target # in Blue Book
Source: DOE “Blue Book”

13. Reducing class size #1 priority of parents citywide and #2 in D8 Data Source: 2014 NYC School Survey Results

14. Citywide class size trends this fall
This fall, citywide class sizes increased an average one tenth of a student per class, according to the DOE.
In K-3, our calculations show class sizes decreased slightly from 24.9 to 24.7 but at this rate would take 24 years to reach C4E goals of 20 students per class.
In 4-8th, average dropped slightly from 26/8 to 26.7 & would take 30 years to reach C4E goals of 23 students per class.
In HS, average class size increased from 26.7 to 26.8 students – it trend continues, would never reach C4E goals of 25.

15. Class sizes in D8 in K-3 dipped slightly but have increased by 14
Class sizes in D8 in K-3 dipped slightly but have increased by 14.6% since 2006
Data sources: DOE Class Size Reports , 2008 DOE Contracts for Excellence Approved Plan

16. Class sizes in D8 in grades 4-8 dipped even more slightly but have increased by 6.8% since 2008
Data sources: DOE Class Size Reports , 2008 DOE Contracts for Excellence Approved Plan

17. *DOE’s class size data is unreliable &
Class sizes city-wide increased in core HS classes this year and up 2.6% since 2007
*DOE’s class size data is unreliable &
their methodology for calculating HS averages have changed year to year
Data sources: DOE Class Size Reports , 2008 DOE Contracts for Excellence Approved Plan

18. Examples of schools in D8 with large class sizes, K-3
Data source: November 2014 DOE Class Size Report

20. Other ways city has encouraged class size increases
In 2010, the DOE eliminated the early grade class size reduction funding for K-3, despite promising to keep it as part of its C4E plan.
In 2011, the DOE refused to comply with a side agreement with the UFT to cap class sizes at 28 in grades 1-3, leading to sharp increases in these grades to 30 or more.
Co-locations have made overcrowding worse, and taken space that instead could have been used to reduce class size.
When principals try to lower class size, particularly in middle or high schools, DOE often sends them more students.

21. More ways DOE has worked to increase class size in its C4E plan
DOE has cut school budgets by 14% since 2007.
DOE failed to allocate ANY funds specifically towards class size reduction in its targeted or citywide C4E allocations.
DOE allows principals to use C4E funds to “Minimize growth of class size,” which is not lowering class size
DOE has never aligned its capital plan to smaller classes, as required by state C4E regs.
The current “Blue Book” formula would tend to force class sizes higher especially in grades 4-12.

22. Bill de Blasio promised to reduce class size while running for Mayor
During his campaign, Mayor de Blasio promised if elected to abide by the city’s original class size plan approved by the state in 2007.
The Mayor needs to deliver on his promise and provide what NYC parents want and their children need.
He also needs to expand the capital plan to alleviate school overcrowding, end ALL co-locations, and build more schools!

23. What can you do?
Urge Chancellor and your City Councilmembers to expand capital plan and reduce class size.
City Council votes on capital plan every June;
This year they should refuse to approve the capital plan until it is significantly improved.
Will you help us urge them to do so by sending a letter to the Mayor?
Please sign up for our newsletter to be kept up to date on this issue.

24. Comparison of class sizes in Blue book compared to current averages & Contract for excellence goals
Grade levels
UFT Contract class size limits
Target class sizes in "blue book"
Current average class sizes
C4E class Size goals
How many students allowed in 500 Sq ft classroom according to NYC building code
Kindergarten 25 20 23
19.9 14
1st-3rd 32
25.5
4th-5th 28 26
22.9
6th-8th
30 (Title I)
33 (non-Title I)
27.4
HS (core classes) 34 30
26.7*
24.5
*DOE reported HS class sizes unreliable