The city Department of Education notified more than 700 schools that they would receive all or most of the funding they requested to hire additional teachers to lower class sizes this September.

"What seemed impossible has become possible because of the sheer determination of educators and parents," said Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers. "We are taking a huge step towards lowering class sizes for all of our students."

Since the law took effect in 2022, educators and parents have had to fight efforts to derail the implementation of the landmark legislation.

To jumpstart the process, the UFT pushed an idea that came from a Queens teacher - allow schools that have the space to lower class sizes to apply to the DOE for the funds to hire the necessary extra teachers. Mulgrew has said small class sizes will help recruit and retain educators.

If all the schools reach their hiring goals for September, the city will meet the law's target of 60 percent of classrooms having fewer students.

"Lowering class sizes in more than 700 schools will have an immediate and profound impact on the lives of students and will allow educators to do the work they love and signed up to do," said UFT Assistant Secretary Michael Sill, who was part of the union's team working to implement the class size law.

UFT President Mulgrew said now comes the harder work - building, leasing, and creating more classroom seats for the schools that lack the space to lower class sizes in order to reach the goals of 80% and 100% of classrooms.

Educators across the city said smaller class sizes are a game changer for students, academically and socially.

"Our students will finally be getting what they deserve," said Tracy Ivanic, a science teacher at P.S. 153 in Queens credited with the idea of having schools develop their own plans and apply to the city's Department of Education for the money to hire the additional staff. "We have seen how small classes can make a huge difference. We already use this approach for intervention classes and in summer school because it works. We saw how, during the pandemic, smaller classes helped students. We can now make sure all students have this opportunity year-round."

Margaret Joyce, a 4th grade teacher at PS 35 in the Bronx, said: "Yesterday, when I asked my students how they feel about being in a smaller class, their responses were telling. They said it’s less noisy, they get called on more when they raise their hands, and most importantly, they said they feel heard. To me, a smaller class size means I can give each student the attention they deserve, and I can get to know them—not just as learners, but as individuals. This means I can better support them, challenge them, and guide them to reach their full potential."

Educators in each borough are available to speak about the impact smaller classes will have on their students.