Wilson’s Class Size Plan Invests in State’s Future

Gov. Pete Wilson, capitalizing on a windfall in tax revenues, proposes to step up funding to expand the state’s ambitious class size reduction, adding a million pupils to the program. Under that initiative, launched last year, school districts are encouraged to limit individual classes to 20 students in kindergarten through third grade.

This investment in the critical primary grades should pay off for California’s future. The ceiling of 20 students per teacher, a sharp improvement over the average 30-1 ratio, should provide greater individual attention in the teaching of reading fundamentals and math basics. If students do not get the attention they need to learn the basics in the primary grades, they are far more likely to fail or drop out of school, half-literate, later on.

The governor’s office plans to release specifics of his proposal today during a press conference at a North Hollywood school. The state has to spend the $230-million windfall on education. Proposition 98, passed in 1988, mandates it. However, Wilson can target the spending, and he has chosen the popular class size initiative; 95% of school districts participate. If the Legislature approves, as expected, total spending on the program would reach an impressive $1.5 billion.

Under this latest proposal, the state would pay more of the costs associated with moving to smaller classes. These included added classroom space and more teachers. The per-pupil incentive payment would rise from $650 to $800.

The new funds should also provide added flexibility for school administrators. Principals could afford to assign 18 or 19 students per class, leaving room to accommodate one or two more who might move into the district after school begins. Schools also need to be able to have 21 students in a class, with a small penalty. Currently, it is forbidden except in rare cases. Districts with transient populations need that range of options.

Under the new plan, school districts could also spend the state money for portable classrooms to be placed on school grounds. This and the other elements of the plan should relieve some of the fiscal burden faced by crowded suburban and urban districts. The rapidly growing Los Angeles Unified School District, for instance, has literally run out of room on campuses after aggressively adding new rooms to shrink most first- and second-grade classes.

To take advantage of the proposed infusion, LAUSD administrators are contemplating building two-story primary school additions. In the interim, they may also increase year-round class schedules and even institute double sessions and extend the school year--unpopular options for most parents but perhaps necessary, at least temporarily.

State Supt. of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin is a strong advocate of smaller classes, and Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature are expected to give Gov. Wilson’s program full support. It will take that and more to demonstrably improve California’s public schools. This is a fundamental step.