Not All Districts Using Class-Size Reduction Funds

Although educators almost unanimously agree on the benefits of class-size reductions, several Ventura County school districts are not taking advantage of new state funds to cut ninth-grade classes in two subjects--English and either math, science or social studies.

And while the smaller high school classes have been in effect in some districts for more than one year, there have not been any studies documenting the program’s benefits.

One of the largest districts in the county--Oxnard Union High School District--didn’t reduce the size of any of its freshman classes. And four of the county’s nine eligible districts, which already had small ninth-grade English classes, did not apply for funds to cut a second class.

Districts are paralyzed by the lack of classroom space and a shortage of certified teachers, Ventura County Supt. of Schools Chuck Weis said. Districts such as Oxnard Union and Simi Valley Unified are busting at the seams, he said, and simply can’t buy enough portable structures to house the extra classes.

And finding teachers qualified to teach high school subjects, particularly math and science, is nearly impossible, he added.

“We knew there wouldn’t be enough qualified teachers to fill these classes,” Weis said. “But I think the districts made a good decision not to put unqualified teachers in those spots. If you have to teach trigonometry or calculus, you can’t fake it.”

Class-size reduction money first became available 10 years ago, when districts had the option to cut the ratio of students to teachers to 20 to 1 in one subject. Over the past decade, Ojai, Oak Park, Moorpark, Simi and Ventura reduced ninth-grade English class size with those ongoing funds. And Conejo Valley Unified reduced class sizes for 10th-grade English and math.

Then in August 1998, former Gov. Pete Wilson set aside $78 million--or $135 per student--to cut ninth-grade class sizes. This school year that funding increased to $161 million, or $165 per student. Districts that applied for the funds were required to cut ninth-grade English class sizes and could choose a second subject--math, science or social studies.

The federal government also set aside $129 million this year for districts to cut class size in any one grade, and Gov. Gray Davis urged districts to use that money to reduce 10th-grade English and math classes. Districts receive money based on enrollment and the area’s poverty level. Fillmore was the only district to apply for those funds, using the money to reduce 10th-grade English class size.

In the past year, Ojai and Ventura reduced the size of ninth-grade math classes, Santa Paula reduced ninth-grade English class size, and Fillmore and Conejo Valley reduced ninth-grade English and math class sizes.

Local educators said the funds were not enough to offset facility and personnel costs. Oxnard administrators said they had to turn down about $500,000 in state funds because reducing class size would have cost up to three times that amount. The district would have had to buy between 15 and 17 new portable buildings, and hire as many teachers, Assistant Supt. Eric Ortega said.

“It’s frustrating, because we think class-size reduction would have done a lot of good,” he said. “But we looked at the numbers, and it just wasn’t in the cards. It was just too heavy a burden.”

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If money is still available in a few years, Oxnard school officials said they might be able to reduce the size of their ninth-grade classes. The district plans to open a sixth high school in 2001.

Last year 40% of districts statewide did not apply for funds. This year state officials expect more districts to apply because the funding is expected to be enough to cover the costs. But some districts, such as Oxnard, still have not found a way.

“It’s a major dilemma for districts that are trying to implement the reform,” said Neil Yeager, education programs consultant for the state Department of Education. “There are a lot of districts that are cramped for space and that can’t find qualified, certified teachers to make it happen.”

Since the program took effect in California, no official studies have been conducted on the impact of high school class-size reduction. Yeager said the state Department of Education doesn’t have any plans to assess the program’s success.

“When you have 490,000 ninth-graders in the state, and you don’t have all districts participating, it’s very hard to get comparable data for purposes of doing research,” Yeager said.

Weis said research on class-size reduction in high schools is crucial. “We know it improves attention to students,” he said. “And we know it improves classroom discipline. But whether it improves learning is the question.”

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A research study on elementary school class-size reduction released in June showed third-graders benefited academically from the popular reform. But cutting class sizes exacerbated inequities among elementary schools, the study said.

Schools in poor communities faced the most overcrowding and therefore were the slowest to implement the reforms, the study found. These schools also had to hire the highest number of inexperienced teachers.

Educators are worried about the same disparities in high schools, where class sizes can swell to 38 students.

But despite the downsides, teachers and principals throughout Ventura County say the program is paying off. With smaller classes, high school teachers can give students more personal attention and can catch struggling teens who might otherwise slip through the cracks. Also, the teachers say, they can spend more time teaching and less time disciplining.

“I think class-size reduction is a tremendous benefit for students,” said Bob Iezza, assistant principal at Newbury Park High School. “It offers a great opportunity for teachers to get to know their students better and to really meet their needs.”

Legislators targeted high school freshmen for the newest reform, and did so primarily for academic reasons. Ninth-graders throughout the state scored below the national average on the Stanford 9 exam in 1998 and 1999. This year, California ninth-graders scored at the 34th percentile in reading and Ventura County ninth-graders scored at the 42nd.

Under Davis’ education initiatives, this year’s ninth-graders will also be required to pass an exam when they become seniors to obtain their high school diploma.

“It’s an ideal time to do it,” said Richard Simpson, assistant superintendent for the Conejo Valley Unified School District. “This year’s freshmen are the first students in California history that have to take an exit exam to graduate. And the exam is in English and math, so that’s where we have to target.”

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At Fillmore High School last week, English teacher Eric Lindroth led his 19 students in a discussion of “Romeo and Juliet.” Each student had the book opened to the same page, and their eyes were focused on the front of the room.

Lindroth said the smaller classes have made his job much easier. He said it’s easier to have a discussion, grade papers, contact parents and help students. And it’s easier to keep the class under control, he added.

Across town at Newbury Park High School, there were more empty seats than occupied ones in Brian Crain’s math class. While his 17 students worked in small groups, Crain walked around the room helping them individually.

“It’s easier to do group work because it doesn’t get chaotic,” he said. “And there’s more interaction between the teacher and the students.”

And his students said they now get more help in class.

“I wasn’t really good at math last year,” said John Evans, 15. “I tried to get help, but the teacher was always so busy with all the other students. Now I feel good because I’m actually learning stuff.”