PRESS RELEASES

Release Date: June 5, 2003
CONTACT: Lenore Neier, CSSNY, 212/614-5425

Coalition of Parents, Community Groups, Labor and Educators Seeks Charter Referendum to Limit Class Sizes in NYC Public Schools

New York, NY, June 5, 2003 – A coalition of dozens of groups representing parents, community organizations, labor unions and public school educators today announced the creation of New Yorkers for Smaller Classes and a campaign to amend the City Charter to require lower class sizes in New York City public schools.

David Jones, President of the Community Service Society and a co-chair of the campaign, said, “Although the city and state have allocated funding to reduce class sizes in New York City for years, they still remain far too large – 20 to 36 percent larger than those in the rest of the state. As a result, children who attend school in a time of strained budgets like today are forced to learn in overcrowded classrooms where it is very difficult for them to get the attention they need. Remedying these injustices will require that class sizes be capped by law.”

Lillian Rodriguez Lopez, vice president of the Hispanic Federation and co-chair of the campaign, said, “Each year, the federation’s survey shows that the quality of education is the number one concern of the Hispanic community in this City. It’s been proven without a doubt that a smaller class size will lead to improved academic achievement for students, particularly those living in urban areas. The many children of New York City, particularly those from communities of color, depend on the public school system and can not be denied the opportunity for a better future through improved classroom environments.”

Because New York City is governed by its charter, the coalition will push for creation of a charter review commission that will review the charter with a focus on class sizes in the public schools. Such a commission, which can be formed through a petition process, could put a measure on the ballot recommending a gradual reduction in class size or it could specify limits by grade or devise other solutions to provide city children with a better learning environment.

(A charter commission already named by Mayor Mike Bloomberg does not address the class size issue and is expected to produce a report recommending non-partisan elections in the city.)

Class size mandates are a growing national trend. At least 20 states already have class size reduction legislation in place, including California, Florida, Texas, Kentucky and Washington. On a municipal level, voters in Minneapolis recently approved a class size referendum for the third time by a margin of 72 percent.

The coalition must secure 45,000 valid signatures of voters who were eligible to cast ballots in last November’s gubernatorial election. But because the coalition expects opponents to challenge signatures, its goal is to obtain 100,000 signatures or more.

Once the petitions are certified, the question of whether to create a commission to study class size should go on this November’s ballot. If approved by voters, the commission would be formed and would study the issue and make a recommendation for a charter amendment to be voted on by the public in the November 2004 general election.

Organizations joining the effort include ACORN, the Alliance for Quality Education, the Chancellor’s Parent Advisory Committee, Class Size Matters, the Hispanic Federation, the New York City Central Labor Council, the New York State Conference of NAACP Branches, Parent to Parent of New York State, the United Federation of Teachers and United Parents Associations, among others.

For over 150 years, CSS has pursued a mission that is aimed at the poor but which benefits all: to identify and eradicate the problems creating and perpetuating poverty in New York City. CSS is an independent, nonprofit organization that assists those in need to defeat the problems of poverty and more fully participate in productive community life.

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