Valley schools grow class sizes in early grades

State eases penalties for increasing student-teacher ratios.

Published online on Wednesday, Sep. 09, 2009

Some Valley school districts are increasing class sizes to save money -- despite financial penalties levied by the state.

California began cutting class sizes in 1996 to give the state's youngest students more attention from teachers. Districts are required to maintain 20-1 student-teacher ratios in early grades or lose some state funding.

But the state has eased those penalties, and several districts have found that increasing class sizes helps them survive crushing budget problems.

School districts in Madera and Visalia have added three to four students per classroom on average; in Clovis Unified School District, class sizes are up about one student.

Fresno Unified School District is not increasing class sizes, said Susan Bedi, district spokeswoman. She said the 20-1 ratio is required in the district's contract with the Fresno Teachers Association.

But contract talks next year will determine whether the district will move to increase average class sizes in the lower elementary grades, she said.

Until last year, districts lost 20% in daily attendance money from the state for grades in which districtwide class sizes averaged 21 students. That penalty doubled to 40% for classes averaging 21.5 students. It went to 80% when class averages exceeded 21.84 students, said Rebecca Lee, a fiscal consultant with the California Department of Education.

Under the state's revised penalties, schools lose 5% to 20% when lower-grade classrooms average from 20.45 to 24.95 students and 30% for more than 24.95 students. Districts are not penalized for class averages of 20.44 students or lower.

Clovis Unified expects to save nearly $1 million by having about 21 students per class instead of the state-mandated 20 or fewer. The savings include the 5% in lost state revenues for having a higher student ratio.

"We are pleased with the state giving us some flexibility in our ratio to allow us to make the slight adjustment," said Kelly Avants, a spokeswoman for Clovis Unified School District.

Madera Unified, which is expecting a 24.5-1 ratio, will be penalized 20%. But overall, district spokesman Jake Bragonier said, Madera Unified will be saving $2.15 million this year, mostly in teacher salaries.

The district also saves money by switching to daylong kindergarten and eliminating midday bus trips, he said.

To prepare for the class-size increase, Madera Unified offered retirement incentives to its teaching staff; 65 accepted earlier this year. The district replaced some of them with younger teachers who earn lower salaries, Bragon-ier said.

He said principals have spoken with parents who have been concerned about class sizes, but only one parent has addressed the board about it.

"Parents spoke with a principal who had to explain they were going up by a few students," he said. "I do think that push-back [from parents] would occur if we went to 32- or 33-1."

Visalia Unified is saving $1.4 million by increasing class sizes in kindergarten through second grade. A provision in state law allowed Visalia to exceed the 20-1 ratio in third-grade classes.

The district is aiming for a ratio of 24-to-1 in those classes; the district was averaging 23.67 students per class last week, said Doug Bartsch, area administrator for elementary schools and curriculum.

Central Unified is targeting a 23-1 ratio this year; the average so far is 22-to-1, said Michael Berg, the district's assistant superintendent of business. By increasing class sizes, the district has reduced the number of combination classes -- two grades in one classroom -- and has had to hire fewer instructional aides to assist combination class teachers, Berg said.

Central and Clovis officials say they save on busing costs with the larger class sizes. In the past, when classes grew too large, extra students had to be bused to other schools with lower enrollments.

Avants said families will benefit because they will not have children attending different elementary schools or going to schools outside their neighborhoods.

LisaMarie Slater, president of Clovis Unified's faculty senate, said teachers don't mind adding a student or two to their classes.

"It is not only a huge money saver, but it's best for our community and our kids to keep them at their home school," said Slater, who taught for 18 years in Clovis Unified before becoming faculty senate president.