Sacramento County, CA | November 7, 2000 Election |
![]() |
Class Size ReductionBy Doug ParkCandidate for Governing Board Member; Natomas Unified School District |
![]() This information is provided by the candidate |
Class Size Reduction is an important step in improving the academic performance of students.Reducing class size to 20 or fewer students began several years ago as a way to improve academic performance. I fully support the full implementation of class size reduction. Natomas Unified School District has FULLY implmented class size reduction for grades 1 - 3. Immediate implementation of Class Size Reduction for Kindergarten will be discussed at the October 11, 2000 Board Meeting. In addition, NUSD has implemented reduced class sizes in selected high school classes for English and Algebra. The current trend in class size reduction started with a study done in the State of Tennessee. In this study, class size was reduced from an average of approximately 28 students per class to approximately 17 students per class. In addition, three other steps were taken:
First, the teacher shortage in California is a problem that cannot be easily overcome. Without qualified teachers available in sufficient numbers to meet even the current demand for teachers, it would not be responsible to expand class size reduction at this time. Second, unless the Legislature appropriates additional funds for teacher salaries, support staff and facilities, the District's budget cannot support an expansion of class size reduction. Finally, even if the problems of teachers and funding were resolved, the need to construct new classrooms, and perhaps additional schools, to accommodate an expansion of class size reduction could take several years. I do not want to overcrowd the existing campuses with portable classrooms unless it is a temporary measure necessitated by the construction of permanent facilities. |
Next Page:
Position Paper 2
Candidate Page
|| Feedback to Candidate
|| This Contest
November 2000 Home (Ballot Lookup)
|| About Smart Voter
ca/sac
Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 11, 2000 09:37
Smart Voter 2000 <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © 2000
League of Women Voters of California Education Fund.
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor
opposes candidates for public office or political parties.