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Theater lessons in the cafeteria: Class size law forces tradeoffs for NYC schools
By
Jessica Gould
Published Feb 11, 2026
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By
Jessica Gould
Published Feb 11, 2026
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P.S. 3 in Manhattan highlights the tradeoffs facing the nation's largest school system as it adjusts to a new law limiting class sizes.
Theater teacher Michael DeShields said he's able to give students at the West Village elementary school much more tailored instruction thanks to the lower head count in some classes.
But next year, he expects he'll lose a dedicated classroom to make room for the smaller classes and might have to haul his materials from room to room — which he called "art on a cart" — or hold classes in a partitioned section of the cafeteria.
“I knew that this would be a possibility” because of the law, he said. “I would prefer to have smaller classes with me being more mobile, and know that the kids are getting the supports that they need.”
Schools across the city are grappling with how to meet the mandate. Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels is calling on state legislators to boost city education funding by more than $600 million to help implement the law.
The class size law, which passed in 2022, limits classes to 20-25 students depending on age and is being phased in in stages. By next September, 80% of classrooms are required to be in compliance.
Many parents and teachers had lobbied for the changes for decades, citing the need for more attention to students’ diverse needs — though some parents worry that the new limits will block access to sought-after schools.
Faced with the new class size requirements and enrollment that is declining unevenly systemwide, city school districts are exploring potential closures and relocations, a fraught process that often sparks strong reactions from parents and students.
At a City Council hearing on Tuesday, Samuels said officials are “in constant conversations and negotiations with our union partners as well as with the state.”
He said the city would also be asking lawmakers if there is “an opportunity to look at some common sense revisions” to the law, while taking an expansive look at buildings and utilization.
“Most importantly I think we first have to look at what’s available in our system now … to make sure we’re maximizing the underutilized spaces we have,” he said. “We’re essentially putting the nexus of accountability on the backs of our principals and I think we should shift that not only to the district but to the system.”
Under the Adams administration, the city asked schools to apply for funding to implement the class size law by submitting plans to meet the new requirements. It also gave exemptions to thousands of classes, including those at the specialized high schools, citing overenrollment or construction plans.
But the Mamdani administration, which has been more encouraging of the effort, said the city now needs additional money for teacher salaries and for converting underused space into new classrooms. The city hired 3,700 more teachers than usual last year, and officials have said an additional 6,000 will need to be hired by next fall, on top of the 4,000 to 5,000 they typically hire.
Some advocates said the city needs to present a clearer plan to merit more state investment.
“It simply would be rash and foolhardy to give DOE more money at this point [without] a detailed plan,” said Leonie Haimson, executive director of Class Size Matters, which has been fighting to lower class sizes for decades.
“There needs to be a detailed plan on how that money is going to be spent and there has to be rigorous oversight by the state, so that kids don't get cheated out of the smaller classes they need for another 10 to 20 years," Haimson said.
Haimson has called for increased investments in construction to accommodate thousands of additional seats. She also said the city must consider capping enrollment at some schools.
City officials said $450 million of state and city funds have been put toward the class size law so far.
Tagged
education
new york city
Jessica Gould
Jessica is the education reporter for WNYC and Gothamist. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Jessica reported on the shutdown and reopening of the nation’s largest school system, highlighting the unprecedented impacts on learning, health and mental health for students, staff and families. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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