The New York City Department of Education (DOE) has presented its draft proposal for the 2027 Class Size Reduction Plan (CSRP)marking a significant step in the city’s efforts to improve educational environments. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has pledged an additional $1.5 billion to fund school expansions and create much-needed space for smaller classes.
This initiative comes after criticism from advocates in March, who argued that the update to the School Construction Authority’s capital plan did not sufficiently address the system’s capital needs to meet the class size mandates. Despite this, Mayor Mamdani and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels celebrated the completion of the proposed plan, highlighting their collaboration with City Hall, the State, and unions.
Mayor Mamdani’s Commitment to Smaller Class Sizes
Mayor Mamdani emphasized the importance of real investment, partnership, and planning to achieve smaller class sizes by the fall. He stated, “Delivering smaller class sizes this fall — something every student and teacher deserves — will require real investment, real partnership and real planning.” This commitment aligns with the state’s 2026 legislation, which mandated the development of a five-year plan to reduce class sizes.
The state legislature approved a two-year extension for meeting the class-size requirements, aiming to close a $5.7 billion budget gap by deferring expenses. Mayor Mamdani asserted, “For too long, City Hall treated class size as a problem to postpone rather than a promise to keep. That ends now.” This extension provides the city with more time to address the challenges of reducing class sizes.
The Challenges of Space Limitations
One of the primary hurdles in achieving the goal of reducing class sizes to no more than 25 students is the lack of space in many NYC public schools. Previous iterations of the CSRP focused on reorganizing student distribution, converting non-classroom spaces, and managing enrollment numbers. The 2027 CSRP proposes pursuing more capital projects and construction to create additional room for schools that cannot meet the current reduction mandates due to space constraints.
The plan identifies more than 600 schools throughout the public school system that require additional space to accommodate smaller class sizes. This highlights the extensive need for infrastructure improvements to support the city’s educational goals.
Criticism and Calls for More Specificity
Despite the ambitious plans, advocates like Leonie Haimsonexecutive director of Class Size Matters, have expressed disappointment. Haimson described the proposed plan as “hugely disappointing,” stating it is “not a real plan at all.” The criticism stems from a lack of specificity in the plan, particularly regarding details about specific schools and construction projects.
The 2026 law requires the city to issue annual reports that include details such as the annual capital plan for school construction and leasing. However, the CSRP did not provide this level of detail, instead using broader strokes to describe the administration’s plan. Haimson argued that a plan should provide more concrete information about the steps that will be taken to achieve class size mandates.
As the language of the 2026 law distinguishes a “report” from a “plan,” it is not immediately clear if the CSRP is required to include more detailed information. This ambiguity has left advocates calling for greater transparency and specificity in future iterations of the plan.
