Instead of mandating an increase in class size, budget writers will likely include a $300 million discretionary cut to school systems. Budget writers hope that Governor Perdue will see the move as “protecting class size.”
Budget writers also plan to give school systems flexibility to increase class size in grades 7-12, as well as take money from textbooks funds to pay for teaching positions.
So, here is what the leaders of the General Assembly will claim:
1) They protected class size by refusing to mandate an increase in class size.
2) They protected teaching positions by allowing school districts the flexibility to transfer state and federal funds to support teacher and instructional support personnel.
3) They raised per pupil spending.
To justify these claims, they may not count the $300 million discretionary cut in the equation. We’ll see what tricks they have up their sleeve.
