Districts could seek grants to lower early-grade class sizes

The Education Secretary would award competitive grants to local education agencies for five years. Local education agencies could apply to reduce class sizes in kindergarten through grade 3 at targeted public elementary schools. Agencies would apply with an evidence-based plan to reduce classes in targeted schools to no more than 18 students per class. The plan would address teacher hiring and support, training, teacher preparation time, and required state certification and licenses. The bill authorizes $2 billion for the first fiscal year after enactment and amounts needed for later years; grants depend on funds being made available. Each grant would last five years.

Grant recipients would use at least 97 percent of grant funds for class-size reduction at targeted schools. The spending rules apply to grant funds used at targeted schools served by the recipient agency. A targeted school is a public elementary school in the highest quartile of its district by enrollment of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Funds could support qualified teachers, classroom space, teacher training, and public feedback on educator working conditions. No more than 15 percent of the grant could go to classroom space, and no more than 15 percent could go to teacher training. Recipients would first prioritize targeted schools with the highest share of students from low-income families, then schools with the largest average early-grade classes.

Grant recipients would report each year on their work, and the Education Secretary would evaluate grant activities and report to Congress. These duties apply to grant recipients, the states receiving their reports, and the Education Secretary. Agencies would report to their state on grant activities and progress toward class-size goals; states would send the reports to the Secretary. The evaluation would cover class-size progress and, where data is available, student achievement, school climate, teacher qualifications and retention, and student discipline and absences. The Secretary's first report would be due within 90 days after the first agency reports are due, with annual reports after that.