TESTIMONY
April Blanding on the Unintended Impacts of NYC's Class Size Reduction Law on High-Need Schools
3:20:11
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4 min
April Blanding shares her mixed feelings about NYC's class size reduction law, focusing on its potential negative effects on high-need schools.
- Born and raised in NYC, Blanding now lives in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn and is a mother to two daughters attending NYC public schools.
- She expresses initial support for smaller class sizes before highlighting concerns about the law's drawbacks, especially for struggling schools in high-need areas.
- Blanding argues that the law might benefit wealthier schools while negatively impacting high-poverty, high-need schools such as those in her neighborhood.
- She cites a disparity in classroom size caps across different poverty levels in schools, fearing that the new law could further neglect high-need schools.
- Blanding urges that policies should focus on aiding schools with the greatest needs and calls on the council and mayor to ensure the law benefits those in high-need neighborhoods.
April Blanding
3:20:11
My name is April Blanding.
3:20:14
I was born and raised in Harlem and grew up attending New York City Public Schools.
3:20:20
My family and I currently reside in Bedside, Brooklyn, and have lived in bedside for the last 16 years.
3:20:27
I am here today to voice my concerns over New York City law to reduce class sizes.
3:20:33
When I first heard of the class size bill being passed, I was initially overjoyed because smaller class sizes sound great in theory.
3:20:42
However, after doing some research, I was disheartened by the potential drawbacks of the bill.
3:20:49
In particular, how cap and class sizes could potentially lead to devastating effects on struggling high need schools like many of the schools in my neighborhood and bedside.
3:21:00
I knew right away I had to bring this attention, bring this to bring this issue, to someone's attention.
3:21:10
But first a little bit about myself, I'm a proud mother of 2 children, 2 little girls living attending New York City Public Schools in Brooklyn.
3:21:20
My youngest daughter's enrolled in charter school, and my oldest daughter attends a district public high school.
3:21:29
A brand new one in district 13.
3:21:33
Finding the right schools for my daughters has not been easy, especially in Bedside neighborhood where I'm located in Brooklyn, in District 16.
3:21:43
And district 16 where we live, the vast majority of the students come from low income families and many of its public schools are low performing high need schools.
3:21:53
For this reason, it has been a constant struggle to find schools in my neighborhood that work for my daughters, which led me to seek.
3:22:02
Alternative options such as a district public high school outside of my neighborhood for my oldest daughter in a charter school for my youngest daughter.
3:22:13
I would love to see our local bedside schools improve and better public school options because available becomes available in district 16 so I could send both of my daughters to a high quality public school close to the home.
3:22:30
But after doing my research on the new class size law, I was disheartened to find that it would actually make the schools near me a little less appealing.
3:22:41
Captain class sizes could potentially have all kinds of negative side effects in schools like those in bedside.
3:22:53
This new law has the potential to contribute to further neglect of struggling high need schools and districts that need the most help.
3:23:00
Like district 16, while benefiting schools in wealthier districts that already are succeeding.
3:23:06
According to a chalkboard analysis at the city's highest Poverty Schools, only 38% of classrooms are larger than the capsides allowed.
3:23:18
In contrast at low mid poverty schools, 69% of classrooms are above the cap.
3:23:24
If the new class size law prioritizes funding and resource is for low poverty schools with the largest share of classrooms above the cap, what will this mean for high poverty, high need schools and neighborhoods like mine that may not qualify because they already have small class sizes.
3:23:42
Are there any funds earmarked or special provisions that specifically target the schools that need extra resources and support because they are economically disadvantaged.
3:23:53
Neighborhoods.
3:23:57
Why are we making policy changes to further benefit schools that already succeed most?
3:24:03
Shouldn't we focus on the schools that need the most help?
3:24:08
It saddens me when lawmakers create bills that sound great in theory, but can potentially cause more harm than good once implemented.
3:24:17
I urge the council and the mayor to ensure before the bill is implemented that it benefits schools and neighborhoods with the highest needs.
3:24:28
This is the kind of policies that New Yorkers deserve.
3:24:35
Thank you.