Principal urges delay of class-size minimums to 2030, warns of harm to rural multi-age schools

Lydia Cochran, principal of Peach Elementary School, testified to the Senate Education Committee on April 9 that the state should delay the effective date of new class-size minimums until 2030 so districts can implement them alongside the broader provisions of Act 73.

"I'm here to advocate for pushing the start of class size minimums to 2030 instead of having it start 27," Cochran said, describing her 15 years in public education and doctoral work on equity in predominantly white rural schools.

Cochran told senators that class-size minimums in isolation may not be cost-saving and risk forcing small districts to make decisions ‘‘in isolation of future changes’’ coming under Act 73. She said that starting only one provision before others could ‘‘double up on costs’’ and would not advance equity for students in rural settings.

Cochran also raised a practical question about how the law would treat multi-grade or multi-age classrooms, common in small schools. She asked whether the minimums would apply by "class" or by "grade," noting that combining grades (for example a 5th–6th multi-age class) can yield stronger learning experiences and that treating grades separately could produce arbitrary separations or threaten school viability.

"In PM we have multi-grade classes. This will be my first year working with multi-age classes," Cochran said, adding that small schools often alternate larger and smaller cohorts year to year and that rigid grade-by-grade minimums could force closures or reassignments that harm students.

Cochran described local efforts to stabilize enrollment — including community outreach and housing work with partners such as RuralEdge — and said that small schools like Peach deliver strong outcomes in some cases. She said her school’s per-pupil cost is about $15,000 and reported a 79% literacy proficiency on a recent assessment, a rate she contrasted with lower rates she saw in larger districts.

Committee members pressed for details about how minimums would treat paraprofessionals, elective classes and other special cases. Cochran recommended permitting schools flexibility to define class groupings while limiting multi-grade classes to no more than two grades when feasible.

The committee did not take a vote on policy during the session. Chair and members said they valued the testimony and signaled further discussion and technical clarification will be needed before any statutory language is finalized.