Congressman Brad Sherman - Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 14, 1998

CONGRESSMAN SHERMAN CO-SPONSORS BILL TO REDUCE CLASS SIZE

(Washington, DC) -- Congressman Brad Sherman today announced his support for a new initiative to reduce class size in grades 1-3 by hiring 100,000 well-trained teachers over the next seven years.

"Here in the Conejo Valley the issue raised most often by families I talk with at town hall meetings and other events is education. People are concerned about increasing class size, dilapidated school facilities and schools that are not being held accountable for academic results," said Sherman.

"Voters in 24th Congressional District know that education is a top priority for me. I believe Congress has a responsibility to help states and localities make public education in America the best it can be," said Sherman. "To achieve that goal, a number of my colleagues and I have put forward an agenda to improve public education which includes reducing class size by hiring 100,000 new qualified teachers."

President Clinton recently released a new Education Department report showing that reducing class size, especially in the early grades, leads to improved student achievement. The report -- which analyzed the data and findings from the most carefully designed research studies on class size -- found that:

* Smaller class size increases student achievement.

* Smaller class size reduces discipline problems and increases instruction time for teachers.

* Smaller classes make the greatest impact in the early grades.

"Unfortunately, instead of acting on these initiatives to improve public schools, which 90 percent of our children attend, the Republican Congress continues to pursue an agenda which would undermine public education," said Sherman.

"Here in the Conejo Valley people have made it very clear to me that we must make a commitment to improving public education. It is my hope that Republicans and Democrats can join together to pursue the goal of modern schools which have smaller classes and better discipline, prepare our children for the jobs of the future, and provide for improved learning."