Update on amended class size law, and what you can do to help!

June 2, 2026

As expected, the class size law was amended and the timeline extended to give the administration two more years to reach 100% compliance. Honestly, it was difficult to see how the Mayor could achieve the original timeline given how the Adams administration had dragged its feet and refused to develop any real plan, especially when it came to providing sufficient space for the 500 or so schools too overcrowded at their current enrollment to achieve 100% of classes meeting the caps in the next two years.

But I truly hope that this administration has developed an actual multi-year plan to achieve the goals within the new timeline and is willing to make that plan public as soon as possible. The Mayor is gleeful that he can now save more than $500 million next year because of the amendment, but hasn’t said anything publicly about how he plans to comply with the law even with the extension. At the very least, the Department of Education should have to present a detailed plan before the Council votes on the education budget and the capital plan at the end of June.

How can you help? Next Monday, June 8, education budget hearings will be held starting at 12 noon at which DOE and SCA officials will testify. Please take a moment now to urge your council members to ask the chancellor what his actual plan is to reach all the students who need smaller classes within the new timeline. Ask them to demand that the DOE brief them and the public on the details of this plan before the final vote on the budget and the capital plan occurs at the end of June.

In an email, describe the situation in your child’s school, whether the classes are too large and your school has not received enough funding or space to lower them, or if your school does have smaller classes, point out that all NYC students should have the same opportunities as soon as possible. Please also copy Eric Dinowitz, the chair of the Education Committee, at dinowitz@council.nyc.gov and  us at info@classsizematters.org  If your child attends a school in another council district, you should copy that council member as well.

You can find your Council Member’s name and email by plugging in your address and/or that of your school here.

On Wednesday, the public can testify to all budget issues. You can sign up to speak then but the schedule will likely be very crowded. Instead, I suggest you convert your email into a document and upload it here.

A sample message is below – but please make it as personal as you can; the more detailed and personal the better.

Thanks so much, Leonie

Cc: dinowitz@council.nyc.gov; info@classsizematters.org

Dear CM ….::

I am your constituent and my child attends x school in District Y. I am very concerned that while the administration has received two more years to comply with the goals in the class size law, neither the Mayor nor the Chancellor has yet provided any information to show how they will lower class size to ensure all students receive smaller classes even within the extended timeframe.

My child’s classes this year were unacceptably large; and the school has insufficient space at its current enrollment to reduce them to the levels required. The administration is not building enough schools or allowing us to cap our enrollment, even though there are underutilized schools nearby. [Or: My child has gotten smaller classes because of this law, and it’s made a big difference. I think it’s important that all NYC kids have the same opportunities in an environment where they are able to receive the attention they need from their teachers.]

At the education budget hearings on Monday, please ask the Chancellor and the SCA whether they have an actual, realistic, and detailed multi-year plan to achieve the goals in the law and if so, will they provide it to you as soon as possible. I also urge you to hold off approving the education budget or the capital plan before you’re confident that such a plan exists and will be implemented.

Thanks so much,

Your name, address, email