Leonie Haimson of ClassSizeMatters calls on NYC parents and concerned citizens to attend public hearings about allocation of money.
Starting Tuesday of this week, the NYC Department of Education will hold mandated hearings in each borough on the use of more than $500 million in state Contracts for Excellence funds – which, according to state law, is supposed to include a plan to reduce class size.
Right now, class sizes in the early grades are the largest in 15 years, despite the fact that smaller classes are the top priority of parents in the DOE’s own surveys, and the constitutional right of NYC students, according to the state’s highest court.
Yet instead of allocating specific dollars for this purpose, the DOE has left it up to principals to decide which among five programs they would like to spend these funds. To make things worse, in an Orwellian bit of doublespeak, the DOE will allow principals to spend these funds not to lower class size – but if they merely claim that they will be used to minimize class size increases.
Please attend these hearings and speak out; more information and a schedule is here, and a petition you can sign is here.
Leonie Haimson
Executive Director
Class Size Matters
124 Waverly Pl.
New York, NY 10011
212-674-7320
leonie@classsizematters.org
http://www.classsizematters.org
http://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Democratic Hearings? That’s Old Hat —
Whatcha gotta do is find some friendly billionaires to sue the State for adversely impacting the future earnings of students by dint of over-sized classes.
Where’s all the Phriendly Philanthropists when you really need them?
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (“All your base are belong to us.”) have decided that class size doesn’t matter.
You see, you can have 400 in a class, all doing their worksheets on a screen from Pearson/Gates, Inc., and a single contingent employee making minimum wage wandering among them to make sure that the tablets are working and to answer questions.
So, the money is on the other side. Millions, for example, to the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, makers of the infamous “Class Size Doesn’t Matter” dance video starring that kind of the song and dance men, Mike Petrilli.
oops. has decided, of course
yikes, king of the song and dance men
very funny, Jon!
It’d be phunnier if it warrant so true — But it’s just the way we do doo process in 21st Century $$$chizoid America …
alas, yes
It’s gotten where you can’t tell if you’re flashing back or fasting forward.
If you don’t brush and get cavities, it is your Teachers fault…… I meant Dentist fault.
Class size reduction is number one in the effort to revitalize education. There are many more steps but this is without a doubt number one. Personalizing education cannot and will not happen in a mob.
With this as a stepping stone, we must take a good look at the tired worn out system of education and it’s antiquated model and make a design that supports students that are adversely affected by poverty.
If not now, when!
Cross posted an on my Facebook page, too.
http://www.opednews.com/Quicklink/Leonie-Haimson-Come-to-NY-in-Best_Web_OpEds-Excellence_FACT_Hearings_Money-140616-211.html