Okla. Senate Education Committee Considers Effectiveness of State's Class-Size Mandates

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In 1990, the Oklahoma Legislature passed House Bill 1017, which was hailed a landmark education reform.

At the time, the reform receiving the most attention was a pay raise for teachers, but another provision capping class sizes is now being scrutinized with some officials talking of repeal.

Although small classes were touted as a way to improve student performance, officials now question that assumption and some even believe the cap on class size may be draining money from more vital needs in the school system - such as raising teacher salaries.

It is definitely something we need to look at because we have this mandate to comply with class size, said Sen. …