Alan G. Hevesi
PER
Alan G. Hevesi Hevesi
The audit by Alan G. Hevesi, the state comptroller, found that the classes are still larger than they should be under state policy, despite a decline in enrollment in those grades and an inrush of nearly $500 million in state money earmarked for class size reduction. Whereas, Mr. Hevesi commended the city for a  change, he said it fell short of the state goal of having an average of 20 students per class in those grades; that goal was set forth in a law  under 1997  which the city has received $88 million a year to reduce class sizes. Mr. Hevesi said in a statement that at a time when lower enrollment in the lower grades should have made it easier to cut class size, it's very disappointing to them that the city did not achieve the goal. Alan G. Hevesi, the state comptroller, found that the classes are still larger than they should be under state policy, despite an influx of nearly $500 million in state money earmarked for class size reduction. Mr. Hevesi commended the city for the change, he said it fell short of the state goal of having an average of 20 students per class in those grades. Mr. Hevesi also found that while the state money was supposed to supplement, not substitute for, the city's own money for early class size reduction. The audit comes as Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is locked in a bitter dispute with Albany over increased state financing for city schools, much of which would go toward new buildings.