Classrooms Overcrowded In Spite Of Size Limits

Sunday, September 16th 2007, 6:11 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Some Oklahoma classrooms are overcrowded in spite of legislation passed in 1990 that established class-size limits. A school district can be exempted from class-size mandates if it is at 85% of its bonded indebtedness capacity and may not have the money to hire more teachers or build extra classrooms.

The exemption also applies if a district was bonded at 85% at any time in the previous five years because bonds take time to pay off.

Ed Allen, president of the Oklahoma City American Federation of Teachers, says small class sizes are essential to giving students the best education.

The largest class Allen says he's heard about this year is a room of 38 students.

Allen says he expects to see a lot of teachers being moved between buildings and grades this week.