For Immediate Release

PRESS RELEASE

 

 

For more information contact:

Leonard Salle, President

Commonweal Institute, Inc.

650-330-1395 / lmsalle@commonwealinstitute.org

 

New study says California could lose 6,000 teachers

if Class Size Reduction Law is changed

 

MENLO PARK, California – April 28, 2003 - A report released today by Commonweal Institute takes a critical look at proposed legislation (AB 42) that would result in an increased classroom size for Kindergarten through  third-grade students.

 

The findings show how California could lose 6,000 teachers and suffer a setback in current teacher recruitment and retention initiatives.  The study concludes that, if California hopes to emulate the successes of classroom size reduction programs in other states, it should be considering further class size reductions rather than increasing class sizes and laying off teachers.

 

“With the substantial loss of teachers that comes with any plans to increase class size in grades K-3, California is risking an educational setback that could adversely affect our educational system for years,” said Leonard Salle, President of the Commonweal Institute. “AB 42 is not good policy from either the standpoint of education quality or economics. It would result in the loss of millions of dollars that the state and local districts have invested in teacher recruitment during recent years and will likely increase costs in the future as well.”

 

The report is available online at www.commonwealinstitute.org/EducationReport.html.  You may request an e-mail copy of the report by sending an e-mail to lmsalle@commonwealinstitute.org with “education report” as the subject line. You may request a faxed copy of the report by calling Commonweal Institute at 650-330-1395, providing your fax number, and asking for a faxed copy of the report. 

 

About the Commonweal Institute

The Commonweal Institute is a multi-issue research, educational and communications organization.  For more information about Commonweal Institute please visit our website located at www.commonwealinstitute.org.

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