MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CLASS SIZE ISSUE
Montgomery County Schools
Class Size Issue
Updated February 10, 1999
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Reducing class size in Montgomery County public schools continues as a major
issue of concern to parents and others. Despite additional funds provided
in the FY 1999 budget, overly large classes persist. In order to further
informed public discussion of the issue, this web page provides ready access to relevant
documents.
Links to the individual documents are shown below. Click on the link
to display the document. Some of the testimony before the Board of Education
in January 1999 is provided at the beginning of the page. The November 16,
1998 MCPS report on 1998 class
sizes provides important data.
Excerpts from the MCPS "Citizens Budget FY 2000" show portions of the
superintendent's proposed FY 2000 budget.
To send your comments to the County Executive, click on the following:
[email protected]
To send your comments to the Council, click on the following:
[email protected]
To send your comments to the Board of Education, click on the following:
[email protected]
For further information contact: Ken Colburn
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BOARD OF EDUCATION TESTIMONY
Testimony before the Board of Education, January 1999, on the Superintendent's
Proposed Budget for FY 2000
SPENDING AFFORDABILITY GUIDELINES (SAG) APPROVED BY COUNCIL (FY 2000)
The Spending Affordability Guidelines place a ceiling on funds that may be
appropriated for the FY 2000 budget. The Montgomery County Public Schools
line in the SAG was approved at $961.3 million, a 1.7 percent increase over
$945.2 million for FY 1999. This is a maintenance effort budget that provides
additional funds only to reflect increased enrollment projections. A budget
exceeding the SAG must be approved by 7 of the 9 Council members.
MCPS OFFICIAL CLASS SIZE REPORTS - 1998
Superintendent's November 16, 1998 Memorandum on 1998 Class Sizes
followed by tables showing class sizes by grade and size grouping.
"THE CITIZENS BUDGET FY 2000" - MCPS PROPOSED BUDGET
Citizens Budget Excerpts on Class Size
Graph of Percent over Maximum '90-'91 to '98-'99
MCPS Media Announcement on Proposed Budget, December 10, 1998
AVERAGE CLASS SIZES IN NEARBY SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Note the following comparison of class sizes between Montgomery and Fairfax
Counties that helps explain the difference between average elementary school
class sizes of 25 students in Montgomery and 22 students in Fairfax. See
comparison to other jurisdictions in the link above.
| County | Grades | 20 & Fewer | 27 and Greater |
|---|
| Montgomery | 1-3 | 5.9% | 21.0% |
| Fairfax | 1-3 | 33.9% | 11.3% |
| Montgomery | 4-5* | 3.7% | 34.7% |
| Fairfax | 4-6 | 13.0% | 28.9% |
*Includes all grade 4 and 5 classes plus the 17 sixth grade
classes housed in elementary schools. Does not include
combination classes.
Fairfax figures are for 1996-97
Montgomery figures are for 1997-98
DOCUMENTS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL BOARD
Graph Showing Classes Above Maximum Class Size
Guidelines FY 1989-90 to FY 1997-98 (from School Board's Proposed FY '99
Operating Budget)
Table Showing Classes Over Board of Education
Maximum Guidelines 1984-85 to 1995-96
Table Showing Average Class Sizes 1984-85 to
1995-96
Superintendent's November 21, 1997 Memorandum showing
Number of Classes Over Desired Maximums on October 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997
Class Size Section of "The Citizens Budget FY 1999
published by Montgomery County Public Schools, March 1998
EXECUTIVE AND COUNCIL DOCUMENTS
January 15, 1998 Office of Legislative Oversight
Report "A Review of Montgomery County Public Schools' Class Size Data"
COUNCIL TESTIMONY
Testimony Before the Montgomery County Council, October 13, 1998,
on the Spending Affordability Guidelines for FY 2000
Click on the title, above, for FY '99 Council Testimony supporting
lower class sizes.
ARTICLES AND OTHER MATERIALS ON CLASS SIZE
Montgomery County
Council of Parent Teacher Associations (MCCPTA) Class Size Discussion
Resources
U.S. Department of
Education, "Reducing Class Size: What Do We Know?", May 1998
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
December 11, 1998 Gazette "Small Classes Key to Budget"
November 4, 1998
Washington Post Article "Smaller Classes Get Crowded Out
Montgomery Blair's Popularity Makes It Hard to Meet Goal"
October 7, 1998 Gazette Article "Council to Look at Raising
Budget Spending Guidelines"
Only Councilmember Berlage Votes
in Support of Using Additional Funds for Class Size Reduction -
Washington Post,
June 24, 1998
The Montgomery County Council Voted 8-1 to
use $5.5 million to increase a one-time homeowner's tax credit adopted
earlier this year from $27 to $50. Councilmember Derick Berlage
(D-Silver Spring), the only Council member to vote no, stated
that the funds should be used to reduce class size.
