Over 2,500 classrooms needed to reduce class size in New York City’s lowest performing schools

Geri Palast

Over 2,500 classrooms needed to reduce class size in New York City’s lowest performing schools

A new study by The Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE), the organization that led the successful 14-year litigation and advocacy effort to establish the constitutional right to a sound basic education in New York, found that 2,522 classrooms are needed to reduce class size in New York City’s lowest performing schools.

In light of the new education law and regulations requiring New York City to prioritize class size reduction in low performing and overcrowded schools, “A Seat of One’s Own: Class Size Reduction in the Lowest Performing Schools in New York City” examined class size conditions in the 408 city schools indentified by the state as Schools In Need of Improvement (SINI) or Schools Requiring Academic Progress (SRAP). The study provides a detailed analysis of class size and enrollment data for each grade in each SINI/SRAP school, to the extent it was available, and determined how many classes are needed to reduce class size at all grade levels Pre-K through 12. The targeted class sizes used are the statewide averages (excluding New York City) cited in the BRICKS proposal, contained in CFE’s Facilities Report of 2004.

Major Findings

“A Seat of One’s Own: Class Size Reduction in the Lowest Performing Schools in New York City” found that 2,522 classrooms are needed to reduce class size in the 408 SINI/SRAP schools to the BRICKS class size standard (20-24 depending on the level).

- 62 SINI/SRAP schools are already at reduced class size.
- 152 SINI/SRAP schools can reduce class size with 537 available classrooms within their buildings.
- 43 SINI/SRAP schools can utilize 152 classrooms in neighboring schools to reduce class size through re-zoning.
- 122 SINI/SRAP schools still need 1,546 classrooms to reduce class size that can not be provided within existing capacity. The potential impact of the new schools funded in the Capital Plan would be to reduce the classrooms needed by 680.
- 866 additional classrooms will still be need after all the recommendations in this report have been implemented.
- 122 SINI/SRAP schools need 157 additional classrooms to expand pre-Kindergarten to a full day program for 4 year olds.
- 2 SINI/SRAP alternative high schools need additional classrooms to reduce class sizes. No strategy was recommended for these 2 schools given the special nature of the alternative high school programs.
- 27 SINI/SRAP have no class size data.

The report’s key recommendations include:

1. Develop a plan for reducing class sizes in the SINI/SRAP schools at all grade levels.
2. Reduce class sizes in SINI/SRAP schools with available classrooms.
3. Identify available space in community school districts and high schools to create a space sharing plan to reduce class sizes in SINI/SRAP schools that need additional classrooms.
4. Target capital plan projects to reduce class sizes in the SINI/SRAP schools.
5. Identify the SINI/SRAP schools that need longer-term space strategies.
6. Develop a plan for a full day pre-Kindergarten program for 4 year olds in the SINI/SRAP schools.
7. Issue a semi-annual report on plan goals and benchmarks in reducing class size in the SINI/SRAP schools.

“A Seat of One’s Own: Class Size Reduction in the Lowest Performing Schools in New York City” provides a roadmap to reduce class sizes in the City’s lowest achieving schools using common sense, and cost effective strategies that build on available and planned resources to address the needs for space. The report aims to inform the State Education Commissioner’s response to the DOE’s class size reduction plan; educate and inform the class size panel to be appointed by the State Education Commissioner (per the legislation which will set class size reduction target ranges) and to inform the panel about the significant capital needs in New York City; inform the development of the City’s next five year capital plan for the schools; and, guide policymakers in their decision-making about the use of and additional need for capital funds.

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Posted at 8:01 AM, Nov 29, 2007 in Education
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