For each teacher of grades 7-12, class sizes are not to exceed 29 students. Critics argue that school districts do not have enough money to pay more teachers or the space to comply with the new mandate. A projection from the state's legislative fiscal office said it would instead take at least 3,589 more teachers. Limited state funds also meant a retrenchment in the allocation for professional development for teachers. Last year, the larger allotment had been split evenly between those centers and local districts.
Observers note that many state legislators have ties to higher education.
No local school board will be required to adopt the new policy, which applies to students in grades 9-12, but state board members hope local officials will follow their lead. Students taking part in school band performances, concerts, and marching practices, for instance, would not be affected. Last year, the state board approved a math framework that is more closely aligned with the standards recommended by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The board also endorsed curriculum frameworks for health education and physical education last year, and is expected next month to approve frameworks in the social sciences, foreign languages, and arts education. This year, the state will continue work on revising the framework for English language arts, which the state board is expected to adopt in February 1999.