New York's Crowded Classrooms

New York, NY —

Average class sizes have gone up slightly in the city's public schools. Third grade had the biggest gain with almost 22 students on average now, up from 21 per class last year.

The city's Department of Education called the increase unfortunate but understandable. It said principals have a harder time hiring teachers when their budgets are squeezed.

But Leonie Haimson, executive director of the group Class Size Matters, says that's no excuse.

HAIMSON: There were no state budget cuts this year. In fact the state appropriated more than $400 million in additional aid to schools. Part of that money was supposed to go to reduce class sizes. The city made some cuts but promised that those cuts would not affect the classroom.

REPORTER: Up until this year, class sizes had been declining on average.