District to Cut Class Size for Third Grade

Capistrano Unified School District recently announced plans to implement class size reductions in the third grade after already deciding to lower the class size in first and second grades.

The district plans to gradually lower class size to 20 students in the third grade during the fall as space becomes available at each school.

In the meantime, all first- and second-grade classes at each of the district’s 27 elementary schools will start the year with a 20-to-1 student-teacher ratio, said Austin Buffum, associate superintendent of elementary schools.

Three of the district’s elementary schools on year-round schedules have already started the school year with lowered class sizes.

Harold Ambuehl and Las Palmas elementary schools reduced class size in first, second and third grades, while Foxborough Elementary School lowered first- and second-grade class size to 20 students.

The class reductions are being made in order to comply with new state legislation that provides $771 million to public schools that choose to reduce class size to 20 students by February 1997.

Currently, the district is in the process of hiring 110 teachers to reduce class size in grades one and two. Buffum said 40 to 45 more teachers may also be needed to implement class size reduction in the third grade.

Principals and district officials are also working to house the additional classes, said Buffum.