Dear arts advocates and educators,

Engagement in advocacy works!

Thanks to all of you who contacted your legislators regarding the Senate bill 197 that would have repealed the state code requirements for maximum class size and student-to-teacher ratios. Your voice was heard and this legislation failed in the House Education K-12 subcommittee. Working together we ensured that class sizes will remain at current levels. 

This legislation sought to remove class size oversight from the Tennessee Department of Education, allowing local school systems the option to increase class sizes beyond the current limit. That limit currently stands at 20 students per classroom for kindergarten through third grade, 25 for grades 4-6, and 30 for grades 7-12. Numerous studies have shown that test scores of students in smaller classes are higher than those of students in larger classes. Students in smaller classes are also more likely to graduate and seek further education after graduation.

When the entire arts education community works together we can accomplish great things for Tennessee’s students!