Smaller class sizes allow teachers to provide more in-classroom support to individual students.
In 2022, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed landmark legislation that mandated the lowering of class sizes in New York City schools. The UFT, parents and educators for decades have advocated for smaller class sizes, and the legislation marked a groundbreaking change for our school system.
The law is being implemented in phases, with 60% of classrooms across the city meeting new class size benchmarks by this past fall and full compliance expected by 2030. The law sets the following class size maximums: 20 students in kindergarten through grade 3, 23 in grades 4–8, and 25 in high school classes. Integrated co-teaching (ICT) classes must abide by these same limits while also ensuring that the number of students with disabilities does not exceed 40% of the total class register.
Research has consistently confirmed the numerous benefits of smaller class sizes. A study by the National Education Policy Center asked, “Does Class Size Matter?,” and the answer was a resounding yes. It found that class size positively affects a variety of student outcomes, ranging from test scores to broader life outcomes and is particularly effective at raising achievement levels of low-income children.
The experiences of UFT members at schools well on the way to class size compliance validate those findings. Smaller classes mean stronger learning, deeper relationships, less burnout and better outcomes for all members of school communities.
Three teachers in Queens — the borough with the most overcrowded classrooms — drive home those points by sharing their experiences from the front lines of this new law:
More individual attention
Tracy Ivanic, the chapter leader and a science cluster teacher at PS 153 in Maspeth, also was a member of the UFT class size committee, formed in 2024 to educate school communities about the state law. PS 153 was able to open up three new ICT classes to ease overcrowding. Their ICT classes of 20 students, in compliance with class size law mandates, now have only 12 general education students and eight special education students. “Teachers can give much more individualized attention to all students in these classes,” Ivanic said.
At IS 145 in Jackson Heights, all 6th- and 7th-grade classes currently comply with the class size law. Marlyn Rios, the chapter leader and a speech improvement teacher, said that as a result, “students can now receive help from their teachers more quickly,” which has led to “more learning and better academic outcomes. Each student can be seen, heard and understood with much more ease than ever before.”
Anthony Nicoletti, the chapter leader and a social studies teacher at IS 125 in Woodside, presented at the class size panel at the UFT Spring Education Conference on May 16. Smaller class sizes allow him “to get to know my kids more,” Nicoletti said, “and that creates more buy-in for the work that we’re doing.”
Greater student engagement
With fewer students in a class, there are fewer opportunities for students to withdraw from activities. “Small group instruction is way more meaningful and manageable,” Nicoletti said. Smaller classes, in turn, allow for smaller groups, he said, so “there’s more involvement from the kids.”
Group work creating “hands-on projects are much more feasible as a result of smaller class sizes,” said Rios. “Students form closer relationships with their peers and are able to produce more academically rich projects that reflect their learning.”
Smaller classes also provide more opportunities for student participation. “Engagement is much higher because you can allow more students to answer questions and speak up,” said Ivanic.
Fewer discipline issues
With more students on task, it is not surprising to learn that disciplinary issues are declining. “Small classes allow you to see challenges as they are bubbling up. You’re able to spot stress before it reaches a level where it’s a problem,” said Nicoletti. And with more classroom space, “you have more ability to place kids intentionally” and eliminate problems before they begin, he said.
In Ivanic’s school, behavioral issues had escalated in recent years because the same students wound up being in classes together. However, since being “able to split those students up” due to having more space, “behavioral issues are now few and far between,” Ivanic said. There’s even less arguing over materials because with fewer students, there are more resources to go around, she said.
Less educator burnout
Research has consistently tied large class sizes to higher rates of teacher attrition and job stress. “Teaching is a really hard job,” said Nicoletti, “and it’s a heavy lift sometimes.” Since the new class size maximums, his roster has been reduced from 120 students to just over 90. “This is a big change to our working conditions,” he said.
“When we reduce class size,” he continued, “we’re able to deliver for kids in a more meaningful and impactful way.”
More attention to student needs
With fewer students in the classroom, teachers are able to get a more accurate read on individual student needs, both academic and emotional, and provide additional in-class support. After being able to split up a class of 32 students in Ivanic’s school — many in need of reading intervention services — not only did student behavior in those classes improve, but “not as many students were in need of interventions,” Ivanic said, because teachers were able to provide more in-classroom support to individual students.
With fewer students per class, there is less paperwork to complete, giving teachers “more prepping and planning time, leading to lessons that can specifically target student needs,” said Rios.
That can be especially meaningful in middle school settings like Nicoletti’s.
“Middle school is so transitional,” he said. “You have kids going through a lot of different changes.” Smaller classes make it easier for students to connect to adults and find support. “When you have smaller classes, you have a greater ability for a kid to find their person.”
Improved sense of community
“Smaller class sizes create an overall more welcoming and affirming environment,” said Rios. Parents also “feel more connected to the tight knit community that has resulted from smaller class sizes,” she said, a fact that is especially meaningful in her school, IS 145, which serves more than 1,200 students across three grades.
“Lower class size humanizes everybody,” said Nicoletti. “It allows for real relationship building on both sides.” Students see a teacher more as a person, and students are “not a ‘class,’ they’re kids.”