Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes ofwebsite accessibility
Weather Alert
Heavy rain at times this afternoon
Show Less
Close Alert

Rhode Island Senate approves bill that would cap classroom sizes for grades K-2


Students are shown in a classroom with desks spaced apart for social distancing. (WJAR)
Students are shown in a classroom with desks spaced apart for social distancing. (WJAR)
Facebook Share IconTwitter Share IconEmail Share Icon

The Rhode Island Senate on Thursday approved a bill that would limit the number of students in some elementary school classrooms.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Hanna Gallo, would cap kindergarten, first- and second-grade classrooms at 20 students.

"Smaller classes increase the teacher's ability to deal with students on a more personal level, accommodate diverse needs within a classroom, get involved, and respond more quickly to social, emotional or disruptive behavior issues. It allows them to personalize education further for every student in the class," said Frank Flynn with the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers.

NBC 10 News took a look at current class size caps across Rhode Island districts based on teacher contracts. Providence and North Smithfield have the highest class limits across the state with a cap of 26 students.

Four other districts, including Woonsocket, Smithfield, East Providence, and Chariho, have caps at 25. The average cap across all districts for elementary grade students is 23.

"That doesn't mean there's a hard stop in some districts. If they have to place a child in a classroom above those limits, teachers have to receive extra compensation, but almost unilaterally, teachers would rather have less money than more students in those classrooms," Flynn said.

State Sen. Sam Zurier, who is on the Senate Education Committee, agrees the bill would be beneficial.

"We need smaller classes to help students overcome the trauma that occurred during the pandemic," he explained.

However, Zurier said it would require hiring more teachers, which could be difficult with the ongoing teacher shortage.

"I did a back of the envelope estimate at the hearing and I estimated that this would require 200 more teachers throughout the state," Zurier said.

For districts that are growing in size, like Lincoln, that could get costly.

"With a salary and benefits, you're probably looking at roughly $60,000 per teacher," Superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools Lawrence Filippelli said. "You span that teacher over 10 years, that has a significant budgetary impact that will go over $1 million by the time 10 years is out, so you can't just think short term."

Filippelli said he believes smaller classrooms are impactful for students, but he says there are other options for districts to avoid budgetary implications.

"Other creative ways you could think about doing this is putting a teacher assistant in the classroom, as well. That could be a part-time teacher assistant, a full-time teacher assistant depending on the need. That might be another way to have more impact instruction without reducing the class size down to 20," Filippelli suggested.

Last year, a similar bill passed the Senate in a 34-3 vote but failed in the House.



Loading ...