Urge the DOE, UFT & CSA to create a class size task force now!

Oct. 21, 2022

Dear all:

1. Last spring, the Legislature overwhelming passed a class size bill, S9460/ A10498, requiring that NYC implement a five-year class size reduction plan beginning in the fall of 2022. On Sept. 8, 2022, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the bill into law,  based upon an agreement that the five-year phase-in period will begin Sept. 2023 instead.

Though the law says that the class size reduction plan should be developed by DOE in collaboration with the UFT and the CSA, we are urging all three leaders, Chancellor Banks, Michael Mulgrew and Mark Cannizzaro, to create a task force now that includes parents, students, advocates and local elected leaders to help develop the class size plan and ensure that it is properly implemented.

All stakeholder voices must be included to ensure the plan is equitable, efficient and achievable. There is no time to waste, especially as decisions are being made right now regarding the budget, the capital plan, and school admissions that will determine whether these benchmarks can be met or not.

Already CPAC and several CECs have approved resolutions calling for this Task force. We have also posted here a letter to the DOE, UFT and CSA, signed by CSM, CPAC, AQE, Senator Robert Jackson, and many CEC leaders. If you’re a CEC member or other parent/community leader and willing to sign on, please enter your information in the form here. If you don’t see your CEC members listed, please forward this message to them, as well as your Council Member, to urge them to sign on.

2. This Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 6 PM, I’ll be one of the speakers at a school budget forum on Zoom, sponsored by Senator Robert Jackson, explaining what parents can do to help reverse the budget cuts to their schools and/or prevent further cuts from happening.   More info about this forum here including flyers in English and Spanish; and you can register here.

3. Finally, please respond to our 5-minute budget cut/class size survey, if you haven’t already. Your answers will help us advocate for full restoration of these egregious cuts.

thanks Leonie