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State Representative Gene Pelowski Jr.
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8637
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
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REP. PELOWSKI CALLS FOR LOWER CLASS SIZES FOR MINNESOTA'S STUDENTS
State Representative Gene Pelowski (DFL-Winona) joined fellow DFL legislators on Monday to offer legislation that will address the growing concern about increasing class sizes in schools across the state. The bill would provide incentives for lower class sizes in targeted subjects and help parents better track the number of students in their children's classrooms.
"At Winona Senior High, many of our classes are numbering in the high 30's, and even low 40's," said Pelowski. "What about those students at the elementary level? Is their legacy going to be large class sizes all the way through their educational experience?
If it is, we won't be competitive with anyone, anywhere."
Pelowski blames the increasingly large class sizes on the erosion of state funding for schools, leaving many districts with no choice but to increase class sizes to save money.
Under the legislation, the state would offer incentives to school districts to keep class sizes under specified levels, depending on the grade and subject. For example, class sizes in K through 3 would be kept under 20 students. In grades 4-6, the target would be 25 students or less. In English, math, science and social studies classes in high school, class sizes would be would be maintained at 25 students.
School districts that kept average class sizes in each category under the specified levels would then be eligible for up to $500 times the number of students in each qualifying classroom in grades K-6 and $100 times the number of secondary students.
The bill appropriates $300 million for the initiative. Potential sources of funding include portions of the $317 million Tax Relief Account and the projected $88 million budget surplus.
"The Governor is proposing a mandate that would require schools to spend 70% of their budget in the classroom," said Pelowski. "In Winona, we are already meeting that 70% benchmark and still we have classes in the 30's and 40's.
Clearly, his mandate is not the answer; this proposal is."
In addition to the incentives, the legislation would also require the Commissioner of Education to include class size information on school performance report cards.
"Our first priority in the state should be the success of our students," said Pelowski. “If we want our students to succeed in the competitive world of higher education and the global marketplace, we need to make sure their schools provide the best learning environment.
Smaller class sizes is the way to do that."
News Items
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI: MINNESOTA STATUTE 12A IMPROVES STATE DISASTER RECOVERY PROCESS AND DISASTER RELIEF PACKAGE - (Posted: 2012-08-24 00:00:00)
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI AND SEN. JEREMY MILLER SUPPORT TWO-BRIDGE PROPOSAL - (Posted: 2012-08-23 00:00:00)
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI: STATE DISASTER RECOVERY PACKAGE SHOULD FOLLOW PROCESS OUTLINED IN 12A AND INCLUDE PUBLIC INPUT - (Posted: 2012-08-16 00:00:00)
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