Slavin praised Clinton for wanting to phase in the hiring of teachers and assure that they are qualified, hoping to avoid troubles California had in its crash program, and to stress reading. But he said the money could be more efficiently used on tutoring or other targeted approaches. Local districts would pay 10 percent to 50 percent of the cost, with poor districts getting a higher subsidy. About 37,000 teachers would be hired the first year. Gene V. Glass, at Arizona State University in Tempe, questioned the benefits.
Polls consistently find voter support for smaller classes.
In California's Orange County, some parents are putting their children back from private schools into public schools because of smaller classes.