Valley schools' class sizes growing
By Marc Benjamin/The Fresno Bee
Budget cuts are hurting California's class-size reduction campaign -- once a key part of the state's effort to improve academic performance. The state provides financial incentives to keep K-3 classes small, with the maximum benefit going to those averaging fewer than 20.44. It also levies penalties if classes get too big in the higher grades. But many districts say they still can't afford to hire enough teachers to meet those goals. The number of districts asking to be exempted from the rules for upper primary grades increased from 10 last year to 63 this year. (more…)