Class Size Reduction – Rest
of State
(i.e., Districts other than New York City)
- Option: Create or construct additional
classrooms
- Essential Elements:
- The classrooms created shall provide adequate and appropriate physical space to students and staff.
- For the 2007-08 school year, the district shall report baseline data for the 2006-07 year, stating for each grade level targeted, the number of classes, the average class size and the number of classroom teachers.
- For the 2007-08 school year, the district shall report the extent to which the assignment of additional teachers reduced the classroom teacher-student ratio for each grade level targeted.
- For school years 2008-09 and thereafter, establish class size reduction goals for each grade level targeted that will reduce class size toward the kindergarten through grade 12 class size targets as prescribed by the Commissioner, after his consideration of the recommendations of an expert panel review; and
- Make measurable progress in each year toward such target.
- Essential Elements:
- Option: Adding an additional teacher
to a classroom
- Essential Elements:
- Shall only occur in instances when there is no physical space available for creating addition classrooms.
- For the 2007-08 school year the district shall report baseline data for the 2006-07 year, stating for each grade level targeted, the number of classes, the average class size and the number of classroom teachers.
- For the 2007-08 school year the district shall report the extent to which the assignment of additional teachers reduced the classroom teacher-student ratio for each grade level targeted.
- For school years 2008-09 and thereafter, ensure that the number of students in these classrooms does not exceed the kindergarten through grade 12 teacher-student ratio targets prescribed by the Commissioner, after his consideration of the recommendations of an expert panel review.
- Essential Elements:
Moreover, all programs and activities under the option of class size reduction shall:
- Facilitate student attainment of the NYS learning standards.
- Predominantly benefit students with the greatest educational needs including, but not limited to: those students with limited English proficiency and students who are English language learners, students in poverty and students with disabilities.
- Predominantly benefit those students in schools identified as requiring academic progress or in need of improvement or in corrective action or restructuring.
- Be developed in reference to practices supported by research or other comparable evidence as to their effectiveness in raising achievement.
- Be accompanied by high quality, sustained professional development focused on content pedagogy, curriculum development and/or instructional design to ensure successful implementation of each program and activity.
- Be consistent with federal mandates, state law, and regulations governing the education of such students.
- Be used to supplement, and not supplant, funds allocated by the district in the base year for such purposes.
Federal Law, Regulation, and Guidance:
At this time there is no Federal legislation that directly addresses reduced class size. There are Federal grant programs that support many of the concepts related to class size and improving academic achievement.
No Child Left Behind Title I
Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged, Part A,
Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies http://www.ed.gov/programs/titleiparta/index.html
Title I, Part A is intended to help ensure that all children have
the opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach proficiency
on challenging State academic standards and assessments. Title I provides
flexible funding that may be used to provide additional instructional staff,
professional development, extended-time programs, and other strategies
for raising student achievement in high poverty schools. Title I programs
are required to use effective methods and instructional strategies that
are grounded in scientifically based resarch.
New Regulation under Title I Regarding accountability of LEP/ELLs: SUMMARY: The Secretary amends the regulations governing the programs administered under Title I, Part A, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA). These regulations are needed to implement statutory provisions regarding State, local educational agency (LEA), and school accountability for the academic achievement of limited English proficient (LEP) students and are needed to implement changes to Title I of the ESEA made by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB Act). http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/finrule/2006-3/091306a.html
No Child Left Behind Title II
Preparing, Training, and Recruiting High Quality Teachers and Principals
SEC. 201 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants (Section 2123) http://www.ed.gov/programs/teacherqual/legislation.html
http://www.ed.gov/programs/teacherqual/guidance.pdf (497KB)
No Child Left Behind Title III
PL 107-110: Guidance on standards, assessments, and accountability
for Language Instructional programs for Limited English Proficient
and Immigrant Students: Title III of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act as reauthorized by the No Child Left Behind Act of
2001 (NCLB). http://www.ed.gov/programs/nfdp/NRG1.2.25.03.doc (217KB)
Federal Guidance
LEAs may reduce class sizes by creating additional classes in a particular grade or subject and placing highly qualified teachers hired with program funds in those classes. However, because of space constraints and other concerns, this is not always feasible. There are other methods of reducing class size that are effective in assisting students in increasing their level of achievement.
No Child Left Behind Title V
Part A: Innovative Programs
Title V Part A- Innovative Programs provide districts and schools with
additional funding to support high-quality, innovative educational programs.
Funding can be used in a broad range of areas to improve academic achievement
and the quality of education for students, to improve teacher quality,
and to improve school performance.
http://www.ed.gov/programs/innovative/index.html
New York State Education Law and Commissioner’s Regulations (CR)
Apportionment and Services for Pupils with Limited English Proficiency
CR Part 154 Regulations: Amendments to Commissioner’s Regulations
Related to NCLB: – Education of Students with Limited English Proficiency
as amended by the Board of Regents on July 17, 2003 and effective
May 2, 2003. https://www.p12.nysed.gov/biling/bilinged/pub/Part154Amendments.pdf (81.5KB)
Diagnostic Screening of Pupils
CR Part 117: NYS Regulations on Identification and Services to LEP
Students – Regulations governing initial identification and services
to limited English proficient (LEP) students in New York State. https://www.p12.nysed.gov/biling/bilinged/pub/part117.html
Continuum of Services for Students with Disabilities
Continuum of Services for Students with Disabilities (section 200.6)
includes, but not limited to, requirements pertaining to: grouping requirements,
appropriate certification requirements, consultant teacher services,
related services, resource room programs, special classes, twelve-month
special services and/or program.
https://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/lawsandregs/part200.htm#200.6
Amendment to the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education pursuant
to Sections 101, 207, 3602(37) of the Education Law and Chapter 436 of
the Laws of 1997
Section 144.11 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education
is added, effective October 27, 1998, as follows:
https://www.p12.nysed.gov/nyc/EGCSR/regulations/home.shtml
New York State Education Department Guidance Materials:
New York State Early Grade Class Size Reduction Program https://www.p12.nysed.gov/nyc/EGCSR.html
Memo NCLB NYS Field Memo #05- 2006 Updated Fact Sheet with Highlights of the NCLB’s and IDEA’s Requirements for Teachers and Title I Paraprofessionals in New York State.
NCLB NYS Field Memos provide guidance on New York State’s implementation
of the requirements for teachers and paraprofessionals in the
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) and the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA).
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/mword/nclb052006.doc (314KB)
The Teaching of Language Arts to Limited English Proficient/English Language
Learners Trilogy
https://www.p12.nysed.gov/biling/bilinged/publications.html
Research Studies, Research Reviews and Other Best Evidence:
STAR Study in Tennessee: http://www.heros-inc.org/classsizeresearch.htm
The Student/Teacher Achievement Ratio (STAR) Project was a large
scale, four year experimental study of reduced class size. An overview,
summary, fact sheet and results from the STAR study is provided.
SERVE, “How Class Size Makes a Difference,” 2002. http://www.serve.org/rsi/images/HCSMAD.pdf (1.1MB)
This publication provides a historical context for landmark class
size reduction (CSR) research. It also includes conclusions and recommendations
for CSR implementation, project design, classroom instruction, professional
development, and research and evaluation.
Jeremy D. Finn et.al., “Small Classes in the Early Grades, Academic
Achievement, and Graduating From High School,” Journal of Educational
Psychology, 2005. www.apa.org/journals/releases/edu972214.pdf (158KB)
Summary at http://www.apa.org/releases/smallclasses.html
This study included 4,948 participants in Tennessee’s Project STAR.
The analysis showed that graduating was related to K-3 achievement and
that attending small classes for three or more years increased the likelihood
of graduating from high school.
Fatih Unlu, “California Class Size Reduction Reform: New Findings
from the NAEP,” Nov. 2005 http://www.princeton.edu/
This abstract evaluates the CSR program using student-level achievement
data containing test scores prior to and after the program. While the results
are consistent with the view that the CSR program has had a positive and
significant influence on California students’ achievement scores,
this study does not answer the question of whether this program has been
cost effective.
Reichardt, R. (2001). Reducing Class Size: Choices and Consequences [policy
brief]. Aurora, CO: Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning. http://www.mcrel.org/topics/products/93/
Policy brief that examines different research-based approaches to
reducing class size in kindergarten through third grade.
Ivor Pritchard, “Reducing Class Size: What Do We Know?” US
Department of Education, 1999 http://www.ed.gov/pubs/ReducingClass/
The research reviews various techniques used to study how class size
affects the quality of education. It looks at the relationship between
class size and student achievement, and has conducted various kinds of
studies related to class size and its possible influences on educational
practice. The research looks at what has taken place in many different
states.
Implementation Resources:
SERVE, “A Parent’s Guide to Class-Size Reduction,” 2003. http://www.serve.org/rsi/images/PGTCSR.pdf (1.1MB)
A basic introduction, including actions parents can take to encourage
class-size reduction at their schools.
Jan O’Neill and Deborah Mercier, “Incredible Shrinking Class
Size,” National Staff Development Council, 2003 http://www.nsdc.org/members/jsd/oneill243.pdf (151KB)
Describes how one school in Wisconsin reduced class size without
additional funding.
The National Center on Education in the Inner Cities. “Parents Guide
to Class Size Reduction,” 2000. http://www.temple.edu/lss/pdf/ceicreviews/CEICVol9No2.pdf (137KB)
This research is a compilation presenting next step recommendations
and summaries of papers commissioned for the National Center on Education
Conference on research and practical knowledge about class size reduction.
The work was done by leading scholars and educators in the area of class
size reduction and covered studies from around the nation.
Response to Intervention (RTI): How to Do It
This document is written as a tool to assist schools develop an RTI
model. It is based on current research from the National Center on Learning
Disabilities (NRCLD) and is intended for school staff interested in adopting
new strategies to address the needs of students who are struggling or
may be at risk of failure in reading/literacy and mathematics. It looks
at the essential elements of intervention, including the following key
components: school-wide screening, progress monitoring, tiered service
delivery, and fidelity of implementation. The research to support an
RTI approach is strong on primary grade students.
http://www.nrcld.org/rti_manual/pages/RTIManualIntroduction.pdf (322KB)
Additional resources for information about LEP/ELLs:
Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL):
http://www.cal.org/topics/ell/
CAL conducts projects and offers a variety of research-based resources
related to the education of English language learners in a variety
of settings:
Prekindergarten-Grade 12 programs
Universities and community colleges
Adult education programs
Workplace programs
Center for Research on Education, Diversity & Excellence (CREDE):
http://crede.berkeley.edu/research/research.html
Teaching Diverse Learners (TDL):
http://www.alliance.brown.edu/tdl/
TDL is a resource dedicated to enhancing the capacity of teachers
to work effectively and equitably with English language learners (ELLs).
This Web site provides access to information – publications, educational
materials, and the work of experts in the field – that promotes high
achievement for ELLs.