Schools Get OK to Trim Class Sizes in Kindergarten and Third Grade

The Los Angeles Board of Education cleared the way Monday for schools to reduce class sizes in kindergarten and the third grade this year, a reform they had previously extended only to first and second grades.

The plan approved Monday strives to cut class sizes in kindergarten and the third grade to 20 students within three years. In the interim, those schools pressed for space will be allowed to reduce student-teacher ratios through “team teaching”--having two teachers work in one classroom.

Only about a quarter of the district’s 436 elementary schools have room to start the school year with smaller classes in third grade and kindergarten.

The teachers union publicly opposed teaming up kindergarten teachers for 40 additional minutes daily. But behind the scenes, the union reportedly pushed for team teaching because it generates more state funds than it uses--at least $12 million--and the money could be fed into the salary pool.

Union President Day Higuchi denied such a bifurcated lobbying campaign Monday, then visibly urged board members at the meeting to vote for the team teaching option by nodding and shaking his head.