FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sacramento - Parents, teachers and community leaders today called on California lawmakers to abandon a state budget proposal being considered in the special session of the Legislature that would increase class sizes for millions of elementary students across the state.
"We know tough budget decisions must be made, but increasing class sizes mid-year when California already ranks 49th in the country in the number of students per teacher is the wrong solution," said California State PTA President Jan Harp Domene.
The Senate is expected to vote Thursday on a budget committee plan that would dismantle the state's successful Class Size Reduction program by allowing a "district-wide average" of 20 students, with a maximum of 22 students in kindergarten through third-grade classrooms. The change would take effect immediately, in the middle of the current school year. Current law provides districts with additional funds when they maintain class sizes of no more than 20 students in kindergarten through third grade.
"Research shows that smaller class sizes increase student test scores and give teachers more one-on-one time with each child," said Wayne Johnson, president of the California Teachers Association. "If politicians start playing around with the law, soon all class sizes will be back up to 35 to 40 students. That's not providing our kids with the education they deserve."
"The big question is whose kids get smaller classes?" said Francisco Estrada, senior policy analyst for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. "If state lawmakers change the law to a district-wide average, you know the schools in our low-income and minority neighborhoods will be the ones with more overcrowded classrooms."
The groups are demanding that the Legislature postpone any decision about increasing class sizes until parents and voters have a chance for input on the issue.
"Every public opinion survey shows that voters overwhelmingly support smaller class sizes. Making this change in the middle of the school year will create chaos for our students and schools. Lawmakers owe it to the voters and the children of California to have a full debate on this issue like any other educational policy decision," said Percy Pinkney, state president of the Black American Political Association of California.