Resolution Urging the DOE to Implement a Multi-year Plan that will Provide All NYC Students with the Benefits of Smaller Classes

Nov. 2024

We have drafted the following resolution for PTAs, SLTs or CECs to consider, urging the DOE to create and implement a actual multi-year class size plan, that would enable schools to cap enrollment at lower levels if that will be  necessary for them to cap class sizes at the required levels, and for the DOE to accelerate the construction of more schools. 

You should feel free to shorten the reso and/or make any changes you like to the resolution.  If  you would like help in adding school or district data,  or would like a briefing to explain these issues in more depth, email us at i[email protected].     In any case, please inform us if you pass this or a similar reso.

• Whereas, in June 2022, the state passed a law requiring NYC to phase in class size caps over  five years to no more than 20 students per class in grades K-3, no more than 23 students per class in grades 4th -8th, and no more than 25 students per class in high school, except for physical education and performing art classes to be capped at forty students per class;

• Whereas, the DOE has now put forward a proposal for the third year of this phase-in, in which 60% of classes must meet these limits;

• Whereas, the proposal calls for allowing principals, in consultation with their School Leadership Teams,  to apply for funds for more teachers, but only  if they have the space for smaller classes;

• Whereas, no specific total funding is mentioned in this proposal that would allow schools to hire more teachers, and none is provided for the creation of more  classroom space;

• Whereas, 324,000 students were enrolled in overcrowded schools last school year, about 6,000 more students than the year before, according to data in the Blue Book;

• Whereas more than half of the principals who responded to a DOE survey last year said they do not have sufficient space in their schools to lower class size to mandated levels;

• Whereas, DOE refuses to allow any school to ask to cap their enrollment at lower levels to meet these caps, even if there are underutilized schools of the same grade levels nearby, contrary to the recommendations of the Class Size Working Group;

• Whereas, by refusing to cap enrollment next year, it will be difficult if not impossible for many overcrowded schools to have sufficient space to meet the class size caps in years four and five, without transferring current students out of their schools, which would cause unnecessary disruption to their education;

• Whereas, DOE controls enrollment in an inequitable, non-transparent fashion, forcing overcrowding on some schools while other schools are allowed to limit their enrollment, despite receiving hundreds or thousands of applications, enabling them to cap their class sizes at much lower levels;[1]

• Whereas, DOE already caps enrollment, if necessary, to meet UFT contractual class size levels, so it is unclear why they should not cap enrollment to allow schools to meet the class size mandates in the law;

• Whereas, if DOE were to more evenly distribute students, this would benefit students at all schools, so that those attending currently overenrolled schools would be better able to have smaller classes and eat lunch at more appropriate times, while those at currently underenrolled schools would be able to be provided with art, music, advanced courses and more extracurricular opportunities as a result of more funding;

• Whereas, the DOE has made little effort to build enough schools even in the most overcrowded areas, where there are few underutilized schools, and refuses to say where 70% of school seats funded will be sited as to district, subdistrict or grade level, although an accelerated plan for school expansion and construction will be necessary to meet the required caps;

• Whereas, the DOE has now proposed that a permanent exemption  be granted to all overcrowded schools, even when there are underutilized schools nearby, which could deprive half or more of all NYC students from ever receiving the benefits of the smaller classes required by law;

• Be it resolved that we, [the SLT, PA, CEC or other group] urge the DOE to allocate at least one third of the funding  needed next year to meet the class size caps over the next three years, so that the ramping up of hiring and recruiting of teachers can proceed in an orderly and rational way;

• Be it resolved that we [the SLT, PA, CEC or other group] urge the DOE  to allow our school and/or other schools to cap enrollment at lower levels starting next year, especially if there are underutilized schools nearby, which would provide important benefits to students at all types of schools;

• Be it resolved that there should be no permanent exemptions granted to overenrolled or overcrowded schools, but that DOE should provide all schools with the space required for smaller classes, through  adjusting enrollment and/or accelerating and expanding new school construction;

• Be it resolved that the DOE shall be required to produce an actual multi-year class size plan, demonstrating how sufficient funding and space will be provided over the next three years to allow all NYC schools and all students to benefit from the smaller classes they need and deserve.

[1] For example, the Special Music School in District 3 receives 400 applications for Kindergarten each year and yet accepts only 15 students, allowing them to cap  class sizes at 15 students in grades K-8.  Bard Early College high schools in Manhattan and Queens receive  more than 5,000 applications for 9th grade each year, and yet accept only about 150 students, allowing  them to cap  nearly all classes at 24 students or less.