This Bill would help States and local school districts recruit, train, and hire 100,000 additional well-prepared teachers in order to reduce the average class size to 18 in grades 1 through 3. Congresswoman Clayton is a cosponsor of this Bill. The need for this legislation is paramount. Schools across the Nation have struggled to accommodate increasing enrollments. Creating 100,000 new positions for teachers is important in order to meet the enrollment needs.
Evidence shows that there is a direct correlation between class size and learning ability.
The benefits of smaller classes are greatest for poor, minority, and rural community children. These are the children that often face the greatest challenges in meeting high educational standards. Encouraging new persons to enter the teaching profession is critical to maintaining and improving our educational system. The Secretary of Education, Richard Riley, will be the keynote speaker at the forum. Several state and local officials will also be present.