Class Size Policy

SY 2025-2026 Class Size Reduction Targets Funding Awards

NYCPS has awarded nearly 750 schools additional, new funding to support the hiring of teachers to be used expressly for class size reduction. Following a joint review of hundreds of schools’ proposed plans by New York City Public Schools, the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators (CSA), funding decisions on school-level plans were shared with Principals and district leaders via emails from DSLBudgetSupport@schools.nyc.gov on Tuesday, April 8th. 

If schools’ plans were approved, principals were notified of the total number of teacher and AP positions (if awarded) that they will be awarded. Additional funding requests that schools may have made for per diem, sixth period coverages, pro rata and OTPS allocations will be shared with schools via the FY26 Class Size Reduction Targets SAM later in the spring. NYCPS wanted to let principals know about the staff positions earlier than school budgets, so schools can plan accordingly for hiring.   

Schools that receive this funding will be expected to use it solely for the purposes of reducing class size in their schools, in alignment with their approved plans. With this funding, schools’ goals will be to achieve the percentage of classes at or below the new statutory caps shared in the award email, given current space configurations, without reducing overall enrollment, total enrollment in any grade level or enrollment in key programs (such as Dual Language, Special Class, G&T, ASD Nest, etc.). Please know that principals will not be disciplined if they do not achieve the percentages set forth within their notification letter, and compliance with these targets will not be included in your evaluative process under the MPPR.

As noted in initial communications, decisions to withdraw are at the discretion of the principal. In this case, principals may notify the Senior Director of Finance of their intent to withdraw from this program prior to receiving funding; such notifications must be submitted to the Senior Director of Finance in writing no later than April 16, 2025 with a reason for the request to withdraw; if possible, please complete by April 11, 2025. These deadlines are primarily driven by legal requirements of the State budget process. Approval of the Senior Director of Finance to withdraw is not required. Schools that opt out will continue to receive all other eligible funding sources as normal (e.g., 100% FSF) but will not receive any additional class size funding through this process. 

Additionally, principals unable to meet these targets with the allocated funding due to changes in student population, inability to hire, space changes, or other extenuating circumstances may engage with their field support teams to appeal. Details on how to do so will be forthcoming.  

Schools that did not receive this funding, but have the ability to maintain or increase the number of classes beneath the statutory caps, given their current space and enrollment configurations, should make their best efforts to ensure reduced class sizes in their schools. 

For additional guidance on your funding allocations, please reach out to your Senior Director of Finance or classsize@schools.nyc.gov.

SY 2025-2026 Class Size Reduction Implementation Planning

New York City Public Schools (NYCPS), in partnership with the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators (CSA), has developed a “schools up” approach for the 2025-2026 school year to support schools as they work to reduce class sizes, in alignment with the new class size law.    

Principals can create plans to increase their school's compliance with the law and request resources to support that implementation. Principals are not required to apply. Principals who decide to apply are responsible, in consultation with the SLT, for developing the Class Size Reduction plan for the ensuing school year.​

Schools may opt out prior to receiving funding; those schools will continue to receive all other funding sources as normal (e.g., 100% FSF) but would not receive any additional funding through this process.

On Thursday, October 31st, principals received an email from DSLBudgetSupport@schools.nyc.gov with a template to develop this plan. Principals who choose to apply will develop their plans this fall, in consultation with their SLTs, to be submitted by Friday, December 20th.