post_reaction
Please call your Councilmembers today to tell them we need dedicated funding
for class size in next year's budget - you can find their phone nos. here:
https://council.nyc.gov/districts/
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On Tuesday June 11 at noon, more than one hundred parents, students,
advocates, elected officials and union members gathered on the steps of
City Hall to urge the NYC Department of Education and the Mayor to
allocate specific funding in next year's budget towards reducing class
size.
The rally was co-sponsored by Class Size Matters, NYC Kids PAC, the UFT,
Local 372, the Education Council Consortium, and others. Among
the elected officials who spoke eloquently about the need for the Mayor
and Chancellor to reduce class size were Manhattan Borough President
Gale Brewer, City Council Education Chair Mark Treyger, Council Majority
Leader Laurie Cumbo, and Council Members Adrienne Adams, Inez Barron,
Barry Grodenchik, and Brad Lander.
Even though the state’s highest court concluded in 2003 that NYC public
school classes were too large to provide students with their
constitutional right to a sound basic education, class sizes have
actually increased since then, especially in the early grades, where the
research is strongest that smaller classes leads to higher achievement
and better student outcomes all the way through college and beyond.
Among the other speakers on behalf of the need to fund for smaller
classes were Kenneth Cohe,n Regional Director of the NAACP, Maria
Bautista of AQE, Benny Lin of the Parent-Child Relationship Association,
Eduardo Hernandez of NYC Kids PAC, Shino Tanikawa, co-chair of the
Education Council Consortium, Anthony Harmon of the UFT, Donald Nesbit
of Local 372 of DC 37, and Lina Rosario, a 6th grade student in Sunset
Park, Kathy Park of Citizen Squirrel and many others.
Leonie Haimson, Executive Director of Class Size Matters, said: “The
mayor and the chancellor talk a lot about bringing equity and
excellence to NYC schools and some the moves they are making may bring
us closer to that goal. But there’s a huge gaping hole in their agenda
and that is class size. Without lowering class sizes there can be neither true equity or excellence in our schools. This fall, more than 330,000 NYC students were crammed into classes of 30 or more. NYC class sizes are 10-30% larger on average than in the rest of the state. Classes
this large are neither equitable nor excellent, especially as studies
show that students of color gain twice the benefit when class sizes are
reduced.”
“Funding
for class-size reduction has to become a priority for New York City.
Parents and teachers know it has a huge impact on student learning,
especially for our most vulnerable populations,” said United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew.
"Class size reduction is one support that the New York City Department
of Education has never fully implemented for students in NYC public
schools," said NYC Council Finance Chair Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson
Heights, Elmhurst). "It only makes sense that when there are fewer
students in a class, a teacher can individualize their instruction and
give students extra support. More than anything else, this is what our
students need. If we truly want to see our students succeed, we must
reduce our class sizes."
“It’s common sense that smaller class sizes help set New York City students up for success,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “Funding must be allocated for this important cause—the time to stand up for our students is now.”
“We
urge the Mayor and the City Council to support parents, educators and
the community at large by funding smaller class sizes. Smaller classes
have been proven to increase test scores and lowers the need for special
education classes” stated Local 372 President Shaun D. Francois I. “All our children deserve to have access to a sound basic education. Fund smaller class sizes now.”
“Many studies have indicated
that smaller class sizes lead to better academic outcomes for students.
School overcrowding and large class sizes have been a known problem in
our school system for far too long. This is a basic equity issue for our
students—classes that are too large make it impossible for teachers to
provide differentiated instruction and individualized attention, which
children need to do their best. I urge Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor
Carranza to meet the mandates outlined under the CFE decision, and make a
serious commitment to reducing class sizes,” said Council Member Mark Treyger, Chair of the Committee on Education.
Shino Tanikawa, co-chair of the Educational Council Consortium,
which represents the parent-led Community District and Citywide
Councils, said: “Reducing class size is always number one or number two
among parent priorities on the Learning Environment Survey that DOE
gives every year. And yet every year, the issue is ignored by the city in terms of its funding priorities. It is time for our elected officials to step up to the plate, and deliver for NYC children.”
"We
know that smaller class sizes benefit many of our students -- indeed,
the NYS Supreme Court determined well over a decade ago that NYC public
school classes were too large to give our children the education to
which they are entitled. We also know that parents consistently place
reducing class size among their top priorities on NYC Dept of Education
surveys. It's time to act -- we need to ensure that smaller classes are
available for all of our children," said Council Member Helen Rosenthal (Manhattan, District 6).
“As the only NYC political action committee focused solely on the
improvement of public schools, NYC Kids PAC looks hard at the record of
candidates when it comes to lowering class size,” explained Naila Rosario, President of NYC Kids PAC. “Progress must be made on this issue, which has not gotten the attention it deserves from either the Mayor or Chancellor. Expanding Pre-K and providing 3K is fine, but as parents know, kids need more help once they turn five and more feedback and support from their teachers. This
is impossible in too many schools right now because class sizes are too
large. The number of students in the early grades in classes of 30 or
more has increased by nearly 3000% since 2007.”
“Ensuring that our
kids get the best quality education possible should be a topline
priority this budget session and every budget session,” said Council Member Antonio Reynoso.
“Every student in New York City deserves access to an excellent public
school education. Yet in schools that experience overcrowding, teachers
are stretched thin and students cannot receive the personalized
attention necessary to foster their educational and emotional wellbeing.
I am proud to support Class Size Matters in advocating for smaller
class sizes which have been proven successful at increasing student
achievement and help to narrow the opportunity gap.”
“When it comes to New York City public schools, something has to change in a very foundational way,” said Council Member Adrienne Adams.
“We need specific funding allocated toward reducing class size as it
has an effect on the ability to retain effective teachers, student
engagement and overall student success. Reducing class size is the right
thing to do for our students and we cannot make excuses when it comes
to their future.”
“New
York State made it clear in 2003 that New York City’s class sizes were
too large to provide students with the proper attention and resources
they need to learn- a violation of their constitutional right. Since
then the City’s public school class sizes have not shrunk- they have
become larger; which leads me to believe the problem has only grown. I
am proud to stand with Class Size Matters, UFT, my colleagues at City
Council, and all of today’s local partners and parents to support
allocating funding aimed at decreasing the student-to-teacher ratio,”
said Council Member Andrew Cohen (Bronx, District 11).
Maria Bautista, Campaign Director of the Alliance for Quality Education, said: “Parents
know that class sizes are too large in NYC public schools for students
to get the attention they need. Research shows that Black and Latino
students gain the greatest benefit from smaller classes in terms of
achievement, engagement, graduating from high school and attending
college. It’s time that NYC ensured that our students receive the
smaller classes they need for their best chance at success.”
“Why
is this administration singularly focused on birth to five to the
detriment of all other learners? The biggest risk to our Pre-K students
occurs when they enter grades K-3, where too often they’re expected to
learn in classes of 30 or more. Yet the DOE insists on pushing more and
more Pre-K and now 3K kids into elementary schools that are already
overcrowded, which causes our CBO enrollment to drop and threatens our
viability. We implore Mayor de
Blasio and the Department of Education to reduce class size in grades
K-3 by shifting more Pre-K and 3K students back to CBOs. It would the
right thing to do and a win-win for all,” said Brooklyn Pre-K director Alice Mulligan on behalf of CBOs for Equity.
As Diane Ravitch, education historian and President of the Network for Public Education
concluded, “Reducing class size is the single most effective school
reform. Wealthy parents pay large sums for small classes. We owe small
class size to all children.”
