Lawmakers in the state Assembly on Tuesday passed an education bill after the measure was stripped of provisions that aimed to reduce class size.
Majority Floor Leader Teresa Benitez-Thompson told reporters Wednesday the amended bill no longer mandates the reduction in class size, but regardless is still a step in the right direction on the issue by requiring more transparency from school districts. Democrats are supportive of providing ideal class sizes, she said, but setting specific class-size ratios would have required additional schools.
“If I could wave a magic wand and build a hundred new schools tomorrow, I would,” she said. “But we’ve got to get the financing right for it.”
Democratic lawmakers earlier this session identified reducing class size as one of their legislative priorities.
The original bill brought forward by Assemblywoman Brittney Miller required reductions in class size to meet maximum student-teacher ratios established by the state.
The amended legislation now requires each school district to post their student-teacher ratio online after the start of the school year.
