Market Watch: Class Size

Washington state OKs smaller classes Voters in Washington state have overwhelmingly approved a referendum that would allow schools to reduce class sizes and make other educational improvements.

Initiative 728 will provide districts with funds to help them lower K-4 class sizes to 18. Class sizes in Washington currently are the third largest in the nation, with a student-teacher ratio of 20.4 to 1. Proponents argued that the state needed to allocate more money to education to improve student performance and help meet higher standards.

Funding will be available to school districts in 2001-02, and will come from lottery proceeds, existing taxes and budget reserves.