School Spending Increases to $106M
The city’s Department of Education will spend $106 million to hire 1,300 teachers and create 400 new classrooms next year. The increased spending to reduce class size is a result of an additional $700 million in state education funding that came after a long legal battle. About a third of the total amount has been set aside for collective bargaining contracts and special education. The city also plans to use $57 million for instructional time for students, $44 million for professional development for teachers and principals, $20 million for middle and high school restructuring and $294,000 for expanding full-day pre-kindergarten slots.
