More Funding But:
Even though Gov. Davis has proposed full funding for the state's highly regarded class size reduction program, administrative groups are still pressing lawmakers to approve measures that would allow districts to cram more students into classrooms in the program.
The governor told reporters that the full funding was designed to support the progress schools have demonstrated.
Smaller class sizes have been linked in studies to rising test and reading scores, and the governor cited rising test scores as one of the indicators of rising student performance.
While a number of districts - including Livermore - acted quickly to restore the class size program, administrative groups are continuing to push for the "flexibility" to boost student to teacher ratios by at least 10%.
One CTA-opposed measure that would boost the ratios by that amount has just cleared the state Senate on a 27-3 vote and now heads to the Assembly for further action.
CTA and Californians for Smaller Class Sizes, a coalition to preserve this key educational reform, are gearing up to defeat the proposal, SB 556 by Sen. Byron Sher (D-Palo Alto).
The bill would let districts increase class size by 10% and divert some of the program's funding to other non-classroom uses. The boost in student to teacher ratios would make California 50th among the states with the largest class sizes in the nation.
Current law requires districts to cap class enrollment at 20 in classrooms in the program. Districts are pressing for the flexibility by saying it's a response to the state's budget crisis. In point of fact, the changes would not save the state even a dime or help balance the budget.
CTA, the California State PTA, and the Coalition for Smaller Class Sizes have been urging lawmakers to block these efforts by school administrators. Legislators have already defeated a number of measures like SB 556. Teachers note that more administrative "flexibility" will undermine student achievement and divert precious dollars away from the classroom.
Besides CTA, Californians for Smaller Class Sizes also includes the California State PTA, the California Association for the Education of Young Children, the California Coalition for Youth; Educators for Social Responsibility - Sacramento Chapter; No Cuts 4 Kids; Chicano Youth Center; Oakland Kids First; the California State League of United Latin American Citizens; the National Coalition of Hispanic Organizations; the California Black Chamber of Commerce; the Black American Political Association of California; the California Church IMPACT; Madres Del Este De Los Angeles; Martin Luther King Democratic Club - San Diego County; Salvadoran American Leadership & Education Fund; Pueblo y Salud, Inc.; Black Employees Association; People for the American Way; Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN); West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center; Sacramento Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce; Japanese Cultural Community Center of Northern CA; Congress of California Seniors; California Legislative Council of Older Americans; Industrial Areas Foundation; the Gray Panthers of Long Beach, Central Contra Costa County, Greater Oakland, and San Francisco.
CTA Members:
Contact your Assembly Member quickly. Urge her/him to defeat SB 556 (Sher). Remind the lawmaker that the proposal will hurt students and not save the state a single penny.
Also remind your Assembly Member that:
- Research proves smaller classes improve student learning. A study by the Public Policy Institute of California found five of California's largest school districts have seen a significant increase in student test scores since the class size program began.
- Smaller classes are especially vital for high-need students. For instance, research in the Los Angeles Unified School District determined that reading scores rose by 19.5%, math scores by 29.2%, and language scores by 22.5% for high-need students in small classes.
- Parents and teachers know smaller classes work. More than 70% of voters believe reducing class sizes is a very effective way to improve public schools.