Editorials

Smaller classes now

Dec 6, 2007 10:30 AM

The goal of achieving appropriately smaller class sizes in New York City public schools is measurably closer today than it has ever been, though reaching that goal still seems like it’s a long way off. It shouldn’t be.

The fight now is not whether, but how. A reluctant Department of Education still fights against setting caps of 20 students per class in grades K-3 and 23 per class in the older grades. But on the numbers, the DOE has now signed a contract with the State Education Department commiting to those citywide averages.

Look how far we have come. As late as last month, the DOE has argued, as it has for years, that lower class sizes are unnecessary. Last year, when Gov. Spitzer settled the CFE case, additional state funding was made contingent upon the city’s devising a plan to lower class sizes, the DOE came up — in the dead of summer — with a sorry formula that was loudly opposed by the UFT, by parents groups, by community groups, by the Campaign for Fiscal Equity and by others. Acceding to the outcry, the DOE revised its plan into something better though still far from what is needed. The DOE’s latest plan — after prodding by the State Education Department — would set class sizes at 20 students on average in grades K-3 and 23 students on average in the higher grades by 2012.

First, we need caps — or at the very least average per school, not citywide — and second, five years hence is five years too far off.

The good thing about the recent developments is that the basic principle seems no longer to be in dispute. The public demands smaller classes, the state has mandated smaller classes and the city has acquiesced. What remains is for the DOE to implement a meaningful plan ASAP. CFE gave it a blueprint last week [see the details in the story on page 3]. No doubt the saga will continue.