NYC schools offer strategies for smaller class sizes, consider more remote learning: plan

New York City public schools will not limit enrollment in popular schools to comply with the class size law this fall, education officials announced Tuesday – but suggested distance learning and other strategies to bring more classes to the required levels.

The local Department of Education has ordered each of the city’s dozens of school districts to increase its share of compliant classes by 3 percent, according to a draft class size plan. The law currently being implemented will limit classes to between 20 and 25 students depending on school level.

And although significant enrollment proposals were not part of the 50-page plan, principals were given about a dozen options to achieve new goals, including rebalancing their classes, reusing space for classrooms and even consider using virtual learning to reduce the impact on space.

“Our proposed class size reduction plan for the 2024-2025 school year outlines clear and concrete steps to ensure we remain in compliance with the class size law,” said Schools Chancellor, David Banks, in a press release. “In addition, it provides targeted support to schools that need it most and supports strong teacher recruitment – ​​through $182 million in new school funding.” »

Of the increased state funding, $137 million is set aside for high-needs schools that already have the space to reduce class sizes. A few dozen schools that need an additional classroom are working with the city to retrofit other spaces in the buildings by the fall.

To help school districts meet the new ratings, superintendents can require schools to meet individual goals. At the school level, principals can reallocate funds to pay teachers, offer staggered start times for students or share instruction between schools occupying the same building, among other proposals.

Still, education officials don’t expect to implement any major changes this fall. The law requires a citywide compliance rate of 40 percent next year, which the system is already close to.

All class sizes must fall below the caps by September 2028.

While some neighborhood districts, including Ocean Hill-Brownsville and Mott Haven, are in good compliance, others — like Bayside, Forest Hills and Staten Island — have more crowded schools, the data shows.

The city has already begun analyzing the impacts of substantial changes to registration policy and has increased the lower bound of its cost estimate to $1.4 billion, according to the plan. The projection covers the cost of additional teachers and does not take into account new space requirements or some of the teacher recruitment programs proposed by education officials.

While the majority of schools should be able to meet class size requirements in the space they already have, the city estimates that 537 schools need additional space to comply if enrollment remains the same .

The draft plan requires approval from teachers’ and principals’ unions.