A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

FOR RELEASE
June 30, 2000

Contact:
Melinda Malico
(202) 401-1008

STATES TO RECEIVE $1.3 BILLION
TO SUPPORT 29,000 TEACHERS NATIONWIDE

U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley today announced $1.3 billion in funding to support local communities in hiring an estimated 29,000 teachers to reduce class size in grades K-3. The support comes under the Class-Size Reduction Program, now in its second year.

"The benefits of small class size with qualified teachers - for both students and teachers - are abundantly clear," said U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley. "President Clinton and Vice President Gore have made education a national priority - and the American public has made it clear that they agree. Twice before bipartisan congressional majorities have supported the President's proposal to help local communities throughout the nation lower class size. Unfortunately, now, with its most recent budget, the majority in congress is preparing to break its promise to parents, students and the American public by failing to continue this funding. I sincerely hope that the Congress can move beyond partisanship and work together with the Administration to continue to support smaller classes in early grades."

On July 1, states will receive $400 million; the first installment of this year's funds to hire teachers or retain those hired last year. The second installment, in October, will provide an additional $900 million. According to Riley, approximately 1.7 million children - in 90,000 classrooms and over 20,000 schools - are expected to benefit from the program in the upcoming school year through learning in smaller classes.

Each state's funding is allocated on a formula basis, targeted to the poorest school districts. High-poverty school districts are often plagued with limited resources, high teacher turnover, fewer well-trained teachers, and in general, greater need for assistance with comprehensive school improvement efforts.

One hundred percent of the funds go to local school districts, which may use the funds directly to hire teachers in grades K-3, recruit and test new teachers, or provide training opportunities to upgrade the skills of their teaching staff. Districts that have already reduced class size to 18 or fewer students in grades K-3 can use their allocations to make further reductions in those grades, reduce class size in other grades, or carry out activities to improve teacher quality.

"Class-size reduction is something that is so clearly beneficial to helping our children learn and helping teachers teach better," Riley said, "that I am bewildered by any effort to block it. Indeed, research shows that smaller class size in the early grades - with a qualified teacher -- leads to higher student achievement in reading and math, and that these gains persist through high school. This is a priority we must not neglect. Indeed, we must reject the efforts of those who would force communities to choose either smaller classes or better prepared teachers, when we plainly have the resources necessary to invest in both." A 1998 U.S. Department of Education report, Reducing Class Size: What Do We Know?, points to research showing that reducing class size is related to increased student learning. Studies have shown that smaller class sizes result in increased student achievement, reduction in discipline problems, increased instructional time for teachers, and more individualized attention. Although all students benefit from smaller classes, research shows that effects are greatest for disadvantaged and minority students.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: Attached is a chart showing class size reduction state allocations for FY 2000.