City Education Department officials came under sharp criticism Thursday for their plans to comply with a controversial state law that would require Big Apple public schools to reduce overall class sizes by 2028.
The City Council hearing on the issue came as the legislative body’s Education Committee introduced a bill that would require the DOE to report data on actual class sizes for all schools and special programs twice a year. I was disappointed.
“Here’s my problem: The people who are making the decisions have never taught in New York City public schools,” Board of Education Chair Rita Joseph told a panel of DOE officials at the hearing. Ta.
“We have to enforce the law,” added the veteran educator, challenging the Department of Energy’s assertion that it needs more money to hire more teachers to comply with the mandate. Ta.
To help the city comply, Mayor Eric Adams and Schools Superintendent David Banks told lawmakers they would pay $1.4 billion to help the city comply, an estimated cost of hiring 10,000 to 12,000 educators. It asked for $1.9 billion.
According to the latest update from the DOE’s Class Size Reduction Plan, nearly half of all classes are currently at the legal class size limit.But the ministry’s plan notes that more work will be needed.
DOE Vice Chancellor Emma Vadera reiterated that while the government supports the goal of reducing class sizes, more efforts are needed beyond the 2025-26 school year to meet the requirements.
“Simply put, we are currently in full compliance with class size laws. But for the next several years, we have work to do and face some difficult choices to remain compliant.” We will do that,” Badera told the school board.
The department’s First Vice Chancellor Dan Weisberg, New York City School Construction Authority President and CEO Nina Kubota, and District 23 Superintendent Karek Kirkland make up the rest of the panel. spoke at the committee meeting.
State Sen. John Lieu (D-Queens) and Sen. Robert Jackson (D-Manhattan), co-sponsors of the class size bill, were on hand to take questions from members of Congress.
“Our work will not be complete without New York City planning these changes and enacting those changes,” Jackson said.
Mr Lew said he did not “begrudge” Mr Adams and Mr Banks for the financial difficulty of meeting the mandate, but insisted compliance plans needed to be transparent. .
“The reality is that they control public schools, and even though they didn’t create this problem, they inherited this problem, it’s their responsibility to fix it.” he emphasized.
Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Legislature approved the law in 2022 after intense lobbying from all teachers unions.
By the 2027-28 school year, the regulations require a maximum of 20 students in kindergarten through third grade, 23 students in grades 4 through 8, and 25 students in grades 9 through 12. ing.
Earlier, Joseph held a rally in support of the legislation on the steps of City Hall with parents, educators, advocates and elected officials.
“The DOE has a tremendous opportunity to change the educational lives of students by enforcing class laws,” said UFT Assistant Secretary Michael Schill, who attended the rally.
“Sadly, the Department of Energy’s involvement to date has been epitomized by inflating cost estimates and inventing excuses for not doing what needs to be done,” Schill told the Post.
“Even though revenues are rising, reserves are brimming, and the state is investing in New York City’s youth, the city continues to push a false austerity narrative designed to scare the public. ”
UFT President Michael Mulgrew claimed the DOE was “trying to obstruct the law.”
“Parents want this. Educators want this. We ask the DOE to identify schools that have room to make and start making this change at this time,” he said. he told the Post.
“We ask the City Council to help us hold the Department of Energy accountable.”
