School class sizes may rise

Most of Georgia’s public school students and teachers may have two more kids in their classes next school year under a temporary proposal by state schools Superintendent Kathy Cox that would save about $200 million statewide.

Cox said Wednesday that bumping up maximum class sizes in core elementary and middle school classes by two students —- just for the 2009-10 school year —- would help local school systems with anticipated budget shortfalls during the recession.

Georgia’s effort to save money by giving teachers more students would follow a rising trend nationally as schools struggle financially.

State rules require school districts to add another class and teacher if class sizes exceed a set maximum number. By increasing class sizes, school districts may not have to hire as many extra teachers in certain grades, state officials said. Most of a school district’s budget is spent on personnel.

“Schools are struggling,” Cox said. “We believe we are making a reasonable request. We hope two per class won’t negatively impact achievement.”

Parents and teachers agreed that local schools need financial help, but said Wednesday they fear the bigger classes will last more than one year. They also worry that the extra students might make it more difficult for all kids to learn.

“I know we are in tough times, and I don’t have a problem with it going up by two students —- but it better be just two students, and it better be just for one year,” said Gwinnett County parent Stephanie Kratofil.

Cox discussed the proposal Wednesday with State Board of Education members, who are scheduled to vote on the proposal today.

“No one on this board wants to do this,” board member Mary Sue Murray said. “But times are tough, and I think we’re really going to have to go this way.”

Board members weren’t the only ones concerned. Sixth-grade teacher Noelle Robinson’s largest class is 26 students, and she said her job would be more difficult if she had more kids.

“When you’re that high and you add just one or two students, everything becomes more challenging, especially managing the class and keeping the kids’ attention,” said Robinson, who teaches science at Vickery Creek Middle in Cumming. “I’m a little leery of this.”

The proposal would increase the maximum size of all core classes in elementary and middle schools by two students. The maximum size for kindergarten would increase to 20 students; grades 1-3 would increase to 23; and grades 4-8 would increase to 30. Core classes cover English, math, science, social studies and foreign languages.

Cox didn’t recommend raising class sizes for core high school classes, which are capped at 32 students. She said those classes need to stay at their current caps because high schools are struggling academically and are facing new state rules on what students must learn and teachers must teach.

Some parents and teachers said they could live with Cox’s proposal —- provided it is just for one year.

“This is preferable to losing positions and jobs,” said Tim Callahan, spokesman for the Professional Association of Georgia Educators. “We certainly hope this doesn’t last longer than one year, and we certainly hope no school system uses this as an excuse to cram kids in one classroom.”

Higher class sizes shouldn’t result in layoffs, Callahan said, because the state adds about 30,000 students a year, and districts must replace teachers who retire or move. His 75,000 members are mainly teachers.

While the plan would save money, some questioned whether students would do as well with more kids in a class.

“We are disappointed and worry this could impair student achievement,” said Jeff Hubbard, president of the Georgia Association of Educators, which represents 40,000 educators.

Cox said the state will monitor student achievement.

Education experts say smaller classes improve student discipline and learning. While research shows that substantial increases and decreases in class size can affect achievement negatively and positively, it’s hard to know if a two-student increase will make a difference, said Brian Stecher, who has studied class-size issues for RAND, a nonprofit research institution.

“I think it’s fair to assume small differences in class size will have a small detriment in results for kids,” he said, “but the research out there isn’t clear.”

School districts across the country have already increased their class sizes because of the economic downturn. The American Association of School Administrators released a survey in November showing 36 percent of its 800 members had done so because of budget cuts.

Georgia officials expect some school districts won’t need to raise class sizes.

Fulton County school leaders decided in December to keep next year’s class sizes capped at the maximum currently allowed by the state, spokesman Susan Hale said. The district would use the waivers only for temporary situations, she said.