Class-size mandates in Philadelphia lead to split classes

A Philadelphia School District budget directive tells principals to meet class-size mandates even if it means putting students in two different grades in the same room. The policy on "split" classes applies to students in grades one to four. It means, for example, that if there were 36 first graders at a school, the principal would have to place six of them in a class with second graders rather than creating two classes of first graders or allowing one large class. The class-size limit in kindergarten and grades one to three is 30 students; it is 33 students in upper grades.
Click here to read The Philadelphia Inquirer article.

FROM AUGUST 2007: Although Philadelphia school officials still are trying to balance the district's $2.18 billion budget, they plan to reduce class sizes this fall in kindergarten and primary grades at the 54 lowest-performing elementary schools. (The Philadelphia Inquirer)