A new infusion of cash from Albany could mean at least 1,300 new teachers, smaller classes and more instruction time in city schools next year, officials said yesterday.
The Education Department released a preliminary spending plan for the extra $700 million in state funds resulting from a 14-year-old Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit that led to a finding that city schools were shortchanged.
Schools Chancellor Joel Klein said the funds will help deliver "the best possibility for success to the students furthest from it."
But critics worry that principals will have too much discretion over how they spend the new cash, noting the new plan is wanting in specifics.
"This is not a class-size-reduction plan. This is 52 pickup. Throw the cards in the air and see where they land," said Leonie Haimson, executive director of Class Size Matters.
The bulk of the $700 million is already earmarked by the state for charter schools, prekindergarten, operating expenses and other programs. Only about $228 million is designated for new programs in five areas - including class size - laid out by Gov. Spitzer in his "Contract for Excellence."
Next week, the city will hold hearings in each borough at which parents can weigh in on how the $228million should be spent. The state Education Department must ultimately sign off on uses for the money.
The head of the teachers union wants the money tied to class size reduction.
"Without a clearly defined requirement for significant class size reduction, hoping for good faith from administrators is akin to asking, 'Pretty please with sugar on top' with no teeth to back it up," said Randi Weingarten.
Some educators and parents applauded portions of the proposals, including the creation of 400 more "collaborative" classes in which two teachers instruct a mix of special and general education students.
"That's the way they should be handling money all the time, not just leaving it to principals' discretion," said Michael Rebell, one of the lawyers who prosecuted the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit.
