Class Size Reduction. This amendment proposed by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) would provide $1.75 billion in 2001 for measures to reduce class size. These measures would include recruiting and hiring new teachers, testing new teachers, and providing professional development. Yet, as Senator Tim Hutchinson (R-AR) pointed out in debate, the teacher-pupil ratio has been falling for a half century, and test scores have been falling as well. Hutchinson also voiced concerns about the amendment being a step toward nationalizing education and that it would have the unintended consequence of teachers leaving the "worst schools … to fill newly created affluent slots."
The class size reduction amendment to S. 2 was rejected by the Senate on May 4, 2000 by a vote of 44-53 (Roll Call 93). We have assigned pluses to the nays.
