Budget woes mean larger class sizes
May 7, 2008 11:29 AM
Under heavy pressure to contain spending, some school
systems in the Washington, D.C., area are planning to increase class size in the coming year to save
money on teachers. Fairfax County expects to save $11 million by
inching up staffing formulas half a student per classroom teacher.
Loudoun County plans to give each teacher one
additional student, for a savings of $7.3 million. Montgomery and Prince George's county schools are seeking to combine smaller classes or cut support staff and teaching specialists.
To read The Washington Post article, click here.
EARLIER: Several districts in California may increase class sizes in primary
grades because of the state's fiscal crisis. More than $4 billion is expected to
be cut from public education budgets statewide in 2008-09. Educators are loath
to increase student enrollment in the youngest grades. But do smaller class
sizes really make a difference in academic performance? The research doesn't
offer a clear answer.
Click here to read
The San Diego Union-Tribune article.
