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QUESTION
How much will the Department of Education spend on lowering class sizes over the next few years?
1:31:10
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The Department of Education intends to spend between $1.4 billion to $1.9 billion over the next three to five years on lowering class sizes, though next year's budget is still pending.
- The DOE has already added significant funding to school budgets this year, including $100 million to high need schools and additional millions for contracts and collective bargaining agreements.
- Class size reduction is a critical focus, with the DOE close to compliance for next year.
- The DOE's funding decisions, including for class size reduction, depend on final budget approvals from the state and city.
- For next year's budget and the expenditures on class size reduction, exact figures are not yet determined due to the absence of a finalized budget.
Shekar Krishnan
1:31:10
But that all being said, one thing I want to say, so how much does the DOE intend to spend on lowering class sizes next year?
1:31:17
And in years 3 to 5 to be able to hire enough teachers to staff these classes.
1:31:20
What is the actual dollar amount?
Emma Vadehra
1:31:24
So thank you.
1:31:25
I I just wanna clarify one thing about the beginning of what you said, because I actually do wanna be very clear that over the past few rounds of budget decisions the city has made, we have actually not just protected but increased funding in school budgets in particular, which would be the most direct way placed to put money to decrease class size.
1:31:45
So just over the course of this year alone, we have added $100,000,000 to our highest need schools and communities for our FSF.
1:31:53
New weights.
1:31:54
We've added an additional $215,000,000 thanks to the state for contracts for excellence dollars.
1:31:59
Class size is one of the uses there.
1:32:01
FSS funding greatest use is for teachers.
1:32:04
Obviously, that's what we spend most of our money on in school buildings.
1:32:08
Over the course of our mid year adjustments, we have increased more money to schools by another $100,000,000 across the system, and then we have proudly invested in our new collective bargaining agreements with our teachers and principals giving them the extremely well deserved raises they received, which is another $700,000,000.
1:32:25
So just I just wanna be clear that we've actually worked very hard this year to protect and increase funding for school budgets, which adds actually where we would put the money to continue to increase our class size compliance.
1:32:37
We will continue we don't know what our final budget will be next year.
1:32:40
We look forward to learning.
1:32:41
We are up at the state.
1:32:42
We need more money, not just for class size or auction for next year, as you all know, and I appreciate have been vocal advocates on.
1:32:49
We also have expiring stimulus dollars that are supporting 3 k, community schools, restorative justice programming, and many other things.
1:32:58
So as we get the dollars for our final budget, We will have a series of decisions we need to make for next year.
1:33:04
We don't have that final budget.
1:33:05
All of those are things we're gonna look to try and continue to fund where we can in addition to class size.
1:33:11
For classes in particular, we are actually hopefully fairly close to compliance for next year, not the years after that.
1:33:19
But we're fairly close for next year.
1:33:21
So depending on what dollars we get in, we will be looking to protect some of those stimulus funded programs.
1:33:28
That is a key priority.
1:33:29
I think a lot of those are shared priorities for us and all of you while we also look at our class size means for next year.
1:33:35
But realistically, we're also going to be schools to be looking within their existing budgets for next year to make sure we stay in compliance.
Shekar Krishnan
1:33:43
And sorry.
1:33:44
Well, I think I missed that one question.
1:33:45
What how much do you intend to spend?
1:33:47
Over the next year, in the next 3 to 5 years?
Emma Vadehra
1:33:49
So the cost over the next 3 to 5 years is 1.4 to 1.9000000000
Shekar Krishnan
1:33:54
Right.
Emma Vadehra
1:33:55
Final year.
1:33:55
IBO has 1.6 to 1,900,000,000.
1:33:58
In terms of next year, it's too early to say.
1:34:01
We don't have our budget yet.
1:34:02
We don't have our state budget yet.
1:34:03
We don't have our city funding yet.
Shekar Krishnan
1:34:05
Well, I expect to see movement on all of these things.
1:34:08
The class size investments, school lunches, 3 k.
1:34:10
I understand there's a whole budget process here, but to really know that we're working towards achieving these goals.
1:34:15
We need to see it in reflected in the budgetary decisions made by DOE, and we'll revisit that during budget budget time, but there are a lot of concerning things now coming up, you know, that that provide a larger context than this issue.