- For Immediate Release
- (Briggs)
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- RE: DISTRICT ENLARGES ITS COMMITMENT TO CLASS SIZE
REDUCTION FOR 1997-98
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- The San Diego Unified School District is committed to
reducing class size.
- During the 1996-97 school year, 100% of all first and
second grade classes were reduced to a maximum of 20 students per
teacher.
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- Approximately 78% of the district's elementary schools
will extend their class size reduction effort to include at least one
additional grade during the 1997-98 school year. Of the participating
sites, 53% are expected to add both kindergarten and third grade on a
space-available basis. The remaining 47% will add either kindergarten or
third grade. All first and second grade classrooms will continue to be
limited to 20 students.
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- Teachers have given the district's class size reduction
effort great reviews. Many see this as an opportunity to do so much more
for their students. It also provides a greater opportunity for children
to participate in the classroom.
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- "I am now effectively able to include
everyone," said Hancock second grade teacher Krista Peterson.
"Reading groups are now small enough that every child participates.
No one can hide or be left out."
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- Although the program is still so new that there is no
quantitative data to assess its impact upon student achievement, there
is significant anecdotal data to support the program's expansion. A
sample survey of participating classroom teachers reveals that academic
progress is being made.
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- "I have children that didn't know their alphabet
at the beginning of the year and now they can read at grade level,"
commented Cabrillo first grade teacher Preston Nichols.
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- "My children will start third grade at a
substantially higher level that they would have otherwise,"
Petersen said.
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- The participating sites are willing to give up physical
space to reduce class sizes. Despite the loss of common space, like
media centers, auditoriums and staff lounges, principals say smaller
classes give them an important tool to strengthen student achievement.
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- Numerous district departments will continue to play a
partnership role with school site personnel as they creatively figure
out how space is to be utilized. Facilities planning, facilities
services and maintenance and operations have all been involved.
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- "They've been great; our staff has played a
pivotal role in making the program work. They've gone the extra mile to
help meet the needs of children in this district," commented Bruce
Husson, district assistant superintendent for business services.
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- Because the district began to reduce class size three
years ago, the district was able to further reduce class size this past
year despite inadequate funding by the state for facilities. The further
reduction is especially challenging to the district since the state has
not allocated resources for facilities in 1997-98.
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- The projected state class size reduction incentive
income will cover the cost for teachers and teacher materials when
additional materials are required. The schools are responsible for
facilities and furniture. The district must also provide for necessary
staff training requird by the state.
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- During 1996-97, it is estimated that 276 teachers out
of the approximately 1,000 newly hired teachers were for class size
reduction efforts. The remainder were for enrollment growth, attrition
and retirement. During 1997-98, it is anticipated that the district will
recruit approximately 700 teachers new to the district. It is estimated
that between 228-300 of those teachers will be for class size reduction
needs.
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