January 29, 2009
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders are talking about gutting the state’s Class Size Reduction program and allowing districts to jam more students into every classroom.
Providing school districts 100% flexibility for Class Size Reduction does not save the state a single dollar.
Class Size Reduction is a successful program that provides more money for classrooms and more time for teaching.
Taking Class Size Reduction money from the classroom and giving it to school administrators and schools boards to be used at their sole discretion is irresponsible.
California has already fallen to 47th nationally in per-student funding, according to Education Week. The new proposal on Class Size Reduction “flexibility” would decimate one of California’s most effective education reforms.
CTA Asks You to Call Your Legislators NOW!
Call the “Cuts Hurt Hotline" at 1-888-268-4334. Follow the prompts to make two calls – one to your state Senator and the other to your state Assembly Member. Tell your lawmakers to oppose more education cuts, the manipulation of Proposition 98, and the attack on Class Size Reduction. Remind these lawmakers:
- Gutting Class Size Reduction will not save the state one dime or help close the budget deficit.
- All research shows that smaller class sizes improve student learning, especially for ethnic minority and low-income students.
- Giving administrators so-called "flexibility" is really less accountability over school funding and means no guarantees that the money will actually be spent in the classroom where it is needed most.
- California’s academic standards are the highest in the country. Boosting class size will make it more difficult to achieve those standards.
- Schools have effectively implemented Class Size Reduction for more than 10 years. If Class Size Reduction is eliminated, schools will never get it back.
- California already has the largest class sizes in the nation. Don't make matters worse!
- The California State PTA opposes eliminating Class Size Reduction.
Remember to tell lawmakers how cuts are hurting your students – tell your stories!
For more information or to give us feedback on your lawmakers’ responses, write budgetadvocates@cta.org.