Average class sizes in grades 1-3 in New York City public schools rose to 25 or 26 children in the last school year—an addition of three students a class from five years earlier, according to the Mayor's Management Report released Wednesday.Average classes in grades 4-8 also rose but at a slower pace, and averaged 26 to 28 students.The report noted the city aims to bring class sizes down in all K-8 grades, and has a five-year construction plan to reduce overcrowding.
With Cuomo forcing the city to find space for all charter schools - both new and expanding ones - or pay for space on private property, you have to wonder if the city's five-year construction plan to reduce overcrowding is going to work.
This is especially a concern since charter advocates and edu-entrepreneurs are looking to get the charter cap raised or completely eliminated in the next legislative session.
My school currently has 4 or 5 first grades with 33-35 students each. I'm curious to see how they're going to remedy this.
ReplyDeleteBlame it on Bloomberg and say it'll be fixed in a few years when they finish with their capital plan.
DeleteWhich is to say, they won't really remedy it all.
To anonymous 8:06am:
ReplyDeleteContractually first grade was always entitled to a para with numbers that high. The old contract cap was 28 for first grade, 25 for kindergarten. Anything over those numbers required a full time para. Definitely worth checking out. I cannot see a principal trying to overide the contract on this very grievable issue.
Anyone know what the cap is in the new contract?
I don't think the numbers were changed for the new contract.
Delete