Insight, Illinois Federation of Teachers
September/October 2006

"Smaller class sizes mean our children have more time with their teachers, more time to ask questions and an all-around better learning environment," said Gov. Rod Blagojevich at the signing ceremony for Senate Bill 2882, legislation that creates a statewide pilot class-size reduction program. Joining the governor at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Cicero, Ill., on June 21 were IFT president Jim Dougherty and IFT executive board member Alice Kautsky from the West Suburban Teachers Union, Local 571.

"This new program will give teachers the opportunity to focus on teaching, instead of discipline, and students will benefit from a closer relationship with their teachers." said the governor as he signed the bill into law. "Studies and common sense show that kids do better in smaller classes."

SB 2882, initiated and drafted by the IFT and sponsored by Rep. Michael Smith (D-Canton) and Sen. Terry Link (D-Lake Bluff), creates a pilot class-size reduction grant program for grades K-3. The FY07 budget includes $10 million for the program, which will be divided into $50,000 grants that will go to schools to pay for teacher salaries and benefits.

The grants will be distributed among suburban, downstate and Chicago elementary schools to ensure class sizes of no more than 15 students per classroom.

Schools will be required to use the funds to hire additional classroom teachers in order to decrease the number of pupils per class. The State Board of Education will track measures of student success, including assessment scores and attendance rate, in comparison to non-pilot program schools with larger classes.