Governor Calls NC Bill to Reduce K-3 Class Size “Political Shenanigans”
NC House Bill 90 would help reduce class size for K-3 students.
CHARLOTTE, NC — A Republican bill in the North Carolina General Assembly would help reduce class size for K-3 students. Party leaders say it’s a plan that was held up years ago by Governor Roy Cooper. Tonight the governor says House Bill 90 is political shenanigans.
“We know that many students enter kindergarten two or even three years behind where we need them to be to keep them on track,” says North Carolina State Superintendent Mark Johnson.
The North Carolina General Assembly rolled out House Bill 90 on Thursday. It’s an ambitious plan to reduce K-3rd grade class sizes from and average of 21 students to 17 over the next four years.
The Republican plan will phase in those smaller class sizes, and lower student-to-teacher ratios, while providing $60 million in additional state funding for special subject area teachers in art, music, drama and PE.
It’s the feedback Johnson heard from CMS and districts across the state.
“Saying yes, we agree with smaller class sizes, but please give us more time,” says Johnson. “And also make sure we fund the teachers in the arts, and PE, and music. I feel they’ll be happy.”
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools calls the plan a “positive step forward for children” in the district.
House Bill 90 will also eliminate the state’s Pre-K wait list, adding close to 3,000 slots for low-income children. It’s part of an effort to have all students reading at grade level by 4th grade.
Republicans say this plan fulfills promises to reinstate a dedicated funding stream for enhancement teachers, a stream that was eliminated, in part, by current governor Roy Cooper when he was a state senator in the 1990’s.
The governor calls that claim political shenanigans, and says regardless, smaller classes are good for North Carolina kids.
Some districts say the plan could increase class sizes in grades 4-12 to shift more teaching positions to the younger grades, limit how many students can go to some schools and force the conversion of art and music rooms to regular classroom spaces.
