Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 20, 1999
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke and Murray discuss class size at Tacoma school

TACOMA — Gov. Gary Locke and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray visited Fawcett Elementary School today to discuss reducing class size, a top priority for both officials. At the Tacoma school, Locke and Murray saw reduced size first grade classrooms made possible through federal grants.

"Reducing class size will help us reach our goal of making Washington schools the best in the nation," Locke said. "Smaller classes allow teachers to focus more individual attention on each student, giving students the targeted help they need to succeed."

The Tacoma School District's small class size program, called "Great Start," is supported by a Federal Title VI grant of $1,060,000. This grant enabled the Tacoma School District to employ 20 new teachers, which reduced the size of 57 first grade classrooms. Several of those classrooms are at Fawcett Elementary, the site of Locke and Murray's visit today.

Currently, Washington ranks 48th in the nation in class size. Locke has identified class-size reduction as a major education priority, and has asked education leaders from across the state to work with his staff to develop a plan that would make substantial reductions in elementary class size by 2005.

Locke has also written to members of Washington's Congressional delegation, urging them to support Murray's class size reduction bill. The bill ensures an adequate supply of highly qualified teachers, provides for professional development to give educators access to effective teaching strategies, addresses schools' facilities needs, and offers local schools choices to implement approaches, such as creative scheduling. These issues are critical to achieving performance gains by reducing class size.

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