With thousands more teachers needed to meet class size law, NYC embarks on historic hiring spree
New York City schools are gearing up for a historic hiring spree as thousands more teachers are needed this fall to shrink class sizes across the five boroughs.
In a typical year, the city Education Department hires between 4,000 and 5,000 new teachers to fill gaps left by those who retire, move, or leave for other reasons. But by September, officials have recently said the city is aiming to hire between 7,000 and 9,000 new educators to meet a major class size deadline: bringing 60% of classrooms citywide under the caps mandated by the state’s sweeping class size law.
Currently, about 46% of classes comply with the law, which caps K-3 classes at 20 students, 4-8 classes at 23 students, and high school classes at 25. All classrooms must meet the limits by Sept. 2028.
The hiring boom presents both a major opportunity and an unprecedented challenge for city schools.
On one hand, hundreds of schools are likely to have more money than usual, guaranteed earlier in the year than is typical, to hire teachers, thanks to a new city initiative that allowed schools to apply for additional funding to lower class sizes. But the marked uptick in demand for teachers will also put a new strain on the city’s ability to recruit candidates — particularly amid an ongoing state and national teacher shortage.
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