Kimberly Carchipulla, center left, and her son 5 year old Damien Salinas walk into the school on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, in New York. Damien attends his first day of school in New York City after his family emigrated from Ecuador in June. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) Andres Kudacki/AP

More than 320,000 NYC students are in overcrowded classrooms, teachers union says

Eden Villalovas November 21, 11:18 AM November 21, 11:18 AM Video Embed

Schools with a large concentration of low-income students in New York City have class sizes that are over the state limits, the United Federation of Teachers warned in an analysis released Tuesday.

Looking at 665 Title 1 schools that receive funding from the government meant to help students experiencing high levels of poverty, at least 50% of classes go over the state law limits this school year. The data show 322,111 students are currently in classes larger than the laws allow in New York.

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Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) signed a law last September that limits kindergarten through third grade classes to 20 students, fourth through eighth grade classes to 23, and high school to 25. The law will be fully phased in by 2028, requiring the city to have 20% of classes meet the limit by 2023-24 and 40% by 2024-25.

“This is why it is so frustrating when we hear the Department of Education, the mayor and his administration, keep talking about how they don’t believe they’ll be able to meet the implementation of this law. It is just wrong,” United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew said, speaking in front of a Title 1 school, according to ABC 7.

“The children of our city, the neediest children of our city, deserve what the rest of the children in the state already have,” Mulgrew added.

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The state law was endorsed by the union and parents, with the union supporting New York City class sizes aligning with those in city suburbs and the rest of the state. Mulgrew said small class sizes are better for learning and teacher retention.

“This legislation marks a milestone in the yearslong struggle to bring the benefits of smaller classes to the city,” Mulgrew said after the state legislature passed the bill last year.

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