In a critical stage of the “small class” reform in public schools in New York State, achieving the set targets in the New York City education system may be challenging. Kamar Samuels, the Director of New York City Public Schools, admitted during a budget hearing at the City Council that meeting the new regulations for most classes by September this year would be “very difficult”, highlighting the immense pressure of implementing this policy.
According to Samuels, based on the current progress and resource allocation, meeting the state’s requirement of 80% class compliance by the 2026-2027 school year faces multiple constraints such as space, manpower, and finances. He frankly stated, “I think reaching 80% by September will be very difficult.”
This policy stems from the Class Size Reduction Act passed by New York State in 2022, which mandates New York City to gradually lower class size limits in public schools over five years. The primary criteria include no more than 20 students per class for kindergarten through third grade, 23 students per class for fourth through eighth grade, and 25 students per class in high school. The law also specifies that by the 2027 school year, at least 80% of classes must meet the aforementioned student number standards, with the ultimate goal of fully implementing small class teaching.
Samuels pointed out that while small classes can enhance teaching quality, the implementation faces three major bottlenecks. Firstly, there is a shortage of classroom space, as many school buildings in New York City are already overcrowded. Increasing the number of classrooms to reduce class size would require expanding or renovating facilities, which is difficult in the short term. Secondly, there is a lack of teaching staff. Lowering class sizes means the need for a significant number of additional teachers, yet teacher recruitment and retention are already under pressure. Lastly, there is a heavy financial burden. Adding more teachers and classrooms will result in long-term financial expenditure, and the city government needs to balance educational investments under tight budget conditions.
Despite the challenges, the New York City government has stated its commitment to continuing the small class reform. They plan to achieve the statutory goals gradually through school building expansions, resource reallocation, and yearly policy adjustments.