NEW YORK, NY — Today, New York City education leaders and advocates warned that New York City’s $1 billion class size law could deepen inequities and strain the city’s education budget unless officials pause its implementation.

With just two days remaining before the November 15 deadline, when New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) must publicly report their progress on the 2022 Class Size Law, Educators for Excellence, EdTrust-New York and Robin Hood urged the city to act. The groups emphasized that this deadline offers a one-time opportunity to request a pause or revise the implementation timeline to ensure the law is carried out equitably and sustainably.

“At a time of declining enrollment, decreasing state funds, and significant federal budget risks, the city should not spend a billion dollars in a way that will disproportionately benefit our highest income students,” said Evan Stone, CEO of Educators for Excellence. “This weekend’s deadline is the one chance for the mayor-elect to request a pause for the class size law and ensure they are investing resources in a way that is grounded in what’s best for our students – especially our students with the greatest needs.”

Why Education Leaders are Raising the Alarm
Education leaders united to highlight the urgent need for a more equitable and evidence-based approach to the class size law. They warned that without adjustments, the mandate will:

• Distribute resources inequitably, diverting teachers and funding from high-need schools.
• Impose significant costs during a period of fiscal uncertainty.
• Trigger teacher transfers away from schools serving the most vulnerable students.
• Divert attention and resources from other pressing educational priorities, despite limited research proving the law’s effectiveness.
• Miss the only opportunity—on November 15—to pause and create a new, more equitable plan.

“I’ve seen firsthand where the resources are going. It’s not to communities and students who need them most,” said Patrick Sprinkle, NYC educator, UFT Leader, and member of the Class Size Working Group. “The next phases of this mandate will create more openings in higher-income schools, and pull experienced teachers away from schools that predominantly serve low-income students. We don’t want to undo what’s been done, but it would be prudent to use this one opportunity to pause and assess how to mitigate future inequities as we enter the next phases.”

Background on the Class Size Law
Governor Kathy Hochul signed Senate Bill 9460 / Assembly Bill A10498 into law on September 8, 2022, establishing smaller class size limits for grades K–12 in New York City. The law phases in over five years, beginning in 2023 and reaching full compliance by September 2028. It excludes 3K, Pre-K, and self-contained special education classes, while allowing up to 40 students in physical education and performing arts classes. The legislation provides no new funding for New York City to implement the mandate but requires the city to prioritize schools serving higher-poverty populations and creates a process for exemptions agreed upon by the Chancellor, the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), and the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators (CSA). An amendment in 2023 requires annual progress reports and allows a one-time opportunity, by November 15, 2025, for the city to recommend a pause or revised implementation plan.

Inequity in the Distribution of Resources

Education advocates warned that moving from 40% to 80% compliance will force the city to shift teachers and resources from high-need schools in the Bronx and Brooklyn to already well-resourced schools in Staten Island and Queens.

An EdTrust analysis of the City’s FY26 class size reduction allocations reveals alarming inequities:

• Schools serving the most Black and Latinx students receive $200 (41%) less per student than schools serving the fewest.
• Schools serving the most low-income students receive $150 (26%) less per student than those serving the fewest.
• Schools in the Bronx receive $370 per student, compared to $500 per student in Staten Island—a $130 difference.
• Last year, 70% of Bronx schools received class size reduction funding; this year, only 32% will.
• Bronx and Brooklyn schools accounted for 64% of funded schools last year, but only 48% this year.

“As equity and education come under attack, New York cannot afford to pour millions into schools that already have the most while leaving behind those serving Black, Latinx, and low-income students. Without a thoughtful pause and reset, the class-size law will deepen—not close—opportunity gaps,” said Arlen Benjamin-Gomez, Executive Director of EdTrust-New York.

Significant Costs and Budget Uncertainty
To meet interim targets, New York City Public Schools has already hired approximately 3,700 new teachers and spent $400 million to reach 60% compliance by September 2026.

According to the Independent Budget Office, NYCPS will need to:

• Spend an additional $687–$782 million in operational costs to reach 80% compliance by FY2027, on top of $181.7 million already budgeted.
• Hire roughly 10,000 more teachers (net) to fill new classrooms, even after accounting for existing vacancies.
  Invest $6.1 billion in capital costs by FY2029, with a total $27 billion required for full compliance.
• Add 70,000 new classroom seats citywide to meet the mandate.

Meanwhile, the city faces mounting financial pressures:

• A $314 million reduction in state education aid due to foundation aid formula changes.
• $2 billion in federal funding at risk due to expiring pandemic-era support.
• Declining enrollment, now about 815,000 K–12 students, or 11% below pre-pandemic levels, creating higher per-student costs.

“If NYCPS fails to meet compliance, New York State can withhold funds, further jeopardizing the city’s educational stability.
“While well-intentioned, the class size mandate would divert funding and teachers from our highest-need schools. At a moment of fiscal uncertainty, New York City cannot afford policies that exacerbate inequity,” said Richard R. Buery, Jr., CEO of Robin Hood.

Education leaders are calling on New York City officials and the State Education Department to immediately use their authority to pause the class size mandate and craft a new, equity-driven plan. They warn that the November 15 deadline is the city’s last chance to protect fairness, fiscal stability, and opportunity for every student across all five boroughs. Without swift action, New York risks deepening inequities and leaving an entire generation of students behind.

The link to full event can be found here.

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About Educators for Excellence (E4E)
Educators for Excellence–New York is a teacher-led organization with more than 17,000 members across NYC, working to ensure educators’ voices are at the center of the policies that impact their classrooms, profession, and students. E4E–NY mobilizes educators to advocate for high-quality instruction, educational equity, and a more just public school system. Learn more at e4e.org.

About EdTrust–New York
EdTrust-New York is dedicated to eliminating equity and opportunity gaps that hinder students from reaching their full potential. We focus on ensuring that students of color, including Black, Latinx, Native American, and Asian American and Pacific Islander students, and those from low-income backgrounds achieve high levels of success from early childhood through college. For more information, visit EdTrustNY.org.

About Robin Hood
We are NYC’s largest local poverty-fighting philanthropy and since 1988, we have invested nearly $3 billion to elevate and fuel New Yorkers’ permanent escapes from poverty. In 2024, through $129.5 million in grantmaking with 285 community partners, we created pathways to opportunities out of poverty through our strategic partnerships on child care, child poverty, jobs, living wages, and more. We are scaling impact at a population level for the 2 million New Yorkers living in poverty. At Robin Hood, we believe your starting point in life should not define where you end up. To learn more about our work and impact, follow us on X @RobinHoodNYC or go to robinhood.org.