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

Initiative 3:
The Class Size Reduction Initiative

The Class Size Reduction Initiative, over the next seven years, will help school districts hire and train 100,000 new teachers to reduce class size to a national average of 18 in grades 1 through 3. In FY 1999, for instance, $1.2 billion support the hiring and training of 20,000 new teachers. Over the next seven years, a proposed $12.4 billion will be used to hire highly qualified teachers to reach the goal of 100,000 new teachers in America?s classrooms. Reducing class size will help ensure that every child receives personal attention, a solid foundation for further learning and learns to read independently by the end of third grade. Funds are provided for recruiting, hiring and training teachers; for new teachers to take state competency tests; and for professional development.

Each state may receive funds according to a formula, which is based on the greater of the state?s share of funds under Title I or the Eisenhower Professional Development program. State funding will be distributed to school districts based 80 percent on poverty and 20 percent on school enrollment. Information on state allocation amounts is available via the Class Size Reduction program Web site at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/ClassSize/.

The State Education Agencies of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the outlying areas are eligible to apply for funding under this program. School districts will apply to states for funds as part of their Title VI applications. Each state will determine the information that must be included in its application. Generally, school districts must describe their plan to reduce class size by hiring additional highly qualified teachers.

Reducing Class Size: What Do We Know? (May 1998, U.S. Department of Education) is available at: http://www.ed.gov/pubs/ReducingClass/.

Class Size and Students at Risk: What is Known? What is Next? (April 1998, U.S. Department of Education) is available at: http://www.ed.gov/pubs/ClassSize/.

Fact sheets and questions and answers for this initiative are available on the U.S. Department of Education web site at: http://www.ed.gov/inits/FY00/index.html.

Program Director:

Catherine Schagh
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
202-260-8228
Fax: 202-260-8969
e-mail: catherine.schagh@ed.gov and class.size@ed.gov

Additional Contact:

Connie Deshpande
202-401-0113
e-mail: connie.deshpande@ed.gov

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[ Initiative 2: Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology ]

[ Initiative 4: Reading Excellence Act ]