Mulligan Passes Legislation to Reduce Class Sizes

February 23, 2001

Des Plaines…With many classrooms in Illinois being overcrowded, State Representative Rosemary Mulligan (R-Des Plaines) sponsored legislation in the Illinois House that passed this week creating a class size reduction grant program.

"Our children are learning in an overcrowded environment where too often it is impossible for individual children to receive the attention they need and deserve," said Mulligan.

Mulligan's legislation creates a Kindergarten through third grade class size reduction grant program to be administered by the State Board of Education. The board will award grants to school districts that maintain grades K-3 and have an average class size for any such grade of at least 23.

The legislation also provides that no grant funds are to be awarded to a district where the average class size in grades K-3 is already 18 students or fewer.

"Studies have shown that children do the bulk of their learning before completion of the third grade. These grants will help many districts provide students with more one-on-one time with teachers," added Mulligan.