U.S. Senate Approves Feinstein Amendment
to Build Smaller Schools
June 12, 2001

Washington, DC – The U.S. Senate today approved an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act offered by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) that would allow local school districts to use existing U.S. Department of Education funds to build new and smaller schools.

“Building smaller schools is one of the most important steps we can make to reform public education in this nation,” Senator Feinstein said. “The facts show that children educated in smaller schools have higher graduation rates, lower dropout rates, a greater sense of belonging, less drug and alcohol abuse, and fewer discipline problems.”

The underlying Elementary and Secondary Education Act authorizes $850 million in fiscal year 2002 to help local school districts improve school, student, and teacher performance. The Feinstein amendment, approved by a vote of 52-46, would amend this section of the bill, Title V, to authorize the U.S. Department of Education to award grants to local school districts to reduce the size of schools and require equal matching funds from non-federal sources.

“Today, half of American students go to high schools that have 1,500 students or more and some have as many as 4,000 students,” Senator Feinstein said. “California today has some of the largest schools in the nation. In Los Angeles, for example, South Gate Elementary has 4,442 students, Hawaiian Elementary has 1,365 students, and Belmont High School has 4,874 students.”

The American Education Research Association says that the ideal high school size is between 600 and 900 students. The National Association of Elementary School Principals recommends an elementary school size of no more than 400 for kindergarten through the 5th grade.

The schools receiving grants under the Feinstein amendment would have to meet the following requirements:

• 500 student limit for schools with kindergarten through the 5th grade;

• 750 student limit for schools with grades 6 through 8;

• 1,500 student limit for schools with grades 9 through 12.

“The bottom line is that small is better when it comes to education,” Senator Feinstein said. “I believe children learn better and teachers teach better in smaller schools. This amendment reflects that ideal.”