FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 11, 2000

Contact: Josh Freed
(202) 225-4431

Denver, CO — More than 90% of school children living in the Denver-metro area are being taught in overcrowded classrooms, according to reports released today by Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-1) and Congressman Mark Udall (CO-2) at the State Capitol in Denver.

"I wish that I had better news - unfortunately the schools in our area are significantly overburdened and overcrowded according to this congressional study," said Representative Diana DeGette. "The percentage of students taught in classes of 25 or more ranged from 36% in kindergarten to 64% in the third grade - these numbers are alarming and require action."

"These reports document what I have seen first-hand as I have visited schools in my district -- growth is putting pressure on our classrooms. Kids are learning in overcrowded classes and teachers cannot give them the attention they need to succeed in their studies," said Udall. "Research shows that smaller classes produce brighter kids. Without a fundamental investment in school construction and class size reduction, each new school year will bring a school system less worthy of our children."

The reports, prepared for Representatives DeGette and Udall by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, studied classroom sizes in the lawmakers' congressional districts. The data in the reports consists of classroom-by-classroom statistics reported during the 1999-2000 school year.

In the Denver Public Schools, the report found fewer than 11% of children in grades K-3 were taught in classrooms that met the national goal of 18 students per class. By contrast, nearly half of the district's K-3 students (45.3%) were taught in excessively large classes of 25 or more students.

In Boulder Valley Schools, 91% of students in grades K-3 were taught in classes greater than 18. Those figures compare with Adams County School District 12, which includes schools in Northglenn and Thornton, where over 84% were taught in overcrowded classrooms and Jefferson County, where the number was over 97%. In Jefferson County, 53.6% of the students in grades K-3 were taught in excessively large classes of 25 or more students. In addition, the report shows that overcrowded classes were a problem at each grade level.

A growing body of research shows that class size in grades K-3 has a significant impact on learning and student achievement. The Tennessee Student-Teacher Achievement Ratio (STAR) study found that students in classes with fewer than 18 students reached more advanced levels of achievement in math, reading and word study skills and sustained achievement as they progressed through higher grades.
 
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