NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – A new bill introduced in the Legislature would put class size control in the hands of local school districts, not the Tennessee Department of Education.
Sen. John Lundberg (R-Bristol): “We’re not saying, ‘Hey, there are big classes.’ “It’s frankly stupid, stupid. But localities should be able to determine the maximum class size.
Introduced by Sen. John Lundberg (R-Bristol). SB0197it eliminates state-mandated class size maximums and removes the statewide ban on “multilevel” classrooms that span more than one grade level.
Instead, school districts can set their own class size maximums for each grade level, and the Department of Education issues a “guideline” that districts use to set those class sizes.
“The state produces best practices and research shows,” Lundberg said. “But LEAs determine class sizes.”
The decision is part of a larger battle between state and local control of education. Democrats often favor local control.
But this time the sides are opposite.
“I think we should go in the opposite direction, where we’re going to reduce class sizes,” said Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis).
Currently, state law requires grades K-3 to have an average class size of 20 students and a maximum class size of 25; 4-6 years should have an average of 25 students, a maximum of 30 students; For grades 7-12, the maximum class size is 35 students, but the average is set at 30; and for Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes, the maximum size is 25 and the average is 20.
The actual invoice Each district creates its own class size maximums and averages, with the only condition being that class sizes must meet “the requirements of all applicable state and local building, sanitation, utility and building codes.” “fire” as well as Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Lundberg faces criticism from people who say he is trying to eliminate class sizes. But he says it’s not remove link is simple shift the authority behind him and his local constituency asked him to look into it.
“They said we have a third year with 26 students,” Lundberg said. “Well, the largest class size in third year is 25. Shouldn’t we have the will to pass one or two?”
“There has to be state-level approval because yes, we have cases where we have 26 students,” Akbari replied. “But did the university, wanting to save money, place 35 students in a classroom?” And this, in my opinion, is unacceptable.
Akbari argues that this is a slippery slope. One year it might be 26, then the next 27 and so on.
“I would like if you have one-time situations like that, or one or two students, they can claim a state law waiver,” he said. .
But Lundberg says the LEA has an interest in avoiding that because of the risk of rejection.
“I don’t think you’ll find it insulting,” he said. “I really don’t know because these LEAs are run by elected boards – school boards.”
If passed, the law would go into effect next July, before the start of the 2023-2024 school year.
All news on the site does not represent the views of the site, but we automatically submit this news and translate it through software technology on the site rather than a human editor.
