Let us know if your school is on this class size “pilot” list

Update:  The DOE has now posted a School Allocation Memo 49 with guidance for this $18 million class size reduction “pilot” in 72 elementary schools, as well as a spreadsheet listing actual amounts per school. [The spreadsheet allotments only add up to $14.3 million, but perhaps that’s because the DOE is covering the rest of the pension and benefits costs centrally.]

The instructions don’t require actual reductions in class size or even encourage this, but allow the hiring of additional push-in teachers with these funds, including part-time “F” status teachers.  The memo also emphasizes that the pilot may not last more than one year:

As this is a pilot, funding may not be renewed in future years; schools should ensure plans for long-term sustainability for any teachers hired under this allocation. For example, schools may consider using F-Status staff or assigning teachers from non-classroom roles to early grade classes for literacy instruction.

Of course, any education program may not be renewed, and in this case, given that there will be a new Mayor in January who can cancel any he doesn’t like — so this language seems to further indicate the DOE’s entire lack of interest if not outright hostility to the entire notion of class size reduction.

___

The DOE has provided the list of  the 72 elementary schools that are receiving additional funds to lower class size next year in grades K-2.  The list is posted here and embedded below.  If you work in one of these schools or your child attends one, please let us know at [email protected] The DOE has also intimated that rather than actually reducing class size, they may simply put another teacher in the classroom to change the student/teacher ratio, which does not have the same proven benefits of smaller classes.  More on this “pilot” initiative here.