By Michael Bielawski

The Senate Education Committee recently heard from Sarah Tetzlaff, the Principal of Rutland Town School, about class size issues and other topics. One eye-opening stat was when Tetzlaff was adamant that she and some of her colleagues say that class sizes of between 15 and 18 students is ideal for best outcomes. The hour-long Feb. 19 committee session can be seen here.

“Sometimes I have had teachers say they like higher numbers, you know 18 is a magic number, for some [it was] 15. Let’s say anywhere in that range,” Tetzlaff said. “I would not like to see for me as a parent under 15.”

Meanwhile, the governor’s newly released education plan isn’t yet offering hard numbers for class size, but it does suggest that those are coming eventually as it recommends minimum/maximum class sizes.

Tetzlaff touched on some of the disadvantages of going too small. For example, if classes have under 15 students, then that becomes a challenge.

“There’s only so many groups you can make when you get smaller than that,” she said.

She was asked if she meant that more as a parent or as an educator, and she said both.

Class size is a hot-button issue for Vermont as education taxes made big headlines when they went up 13% last year, really 18% because the state temporarily bought down the rate with other funds.

Third in the nation?

Data from the National Center for Education Statistics for the 2020/21 school year pins Vermont’s average class size at 15.4, third smallest in the nation behind only Alaska and Maine.

More recent reports don’t offer a solid average for Vermont’s class sizes, but a Vermont Agency of Education report says that the Green Mountain State in 2024 had “very small class sizes,” and these smaller classes “may have negative impacts beyond cost.”

“Room for increases”

The Vermont Department of Education did a study on class sizes in 2024. Generally, it agrees with Tetzlaff’s notion that around 15 students is ideal.

“If Vermont created minimum class size mandates, such as 10-15 students, these would still fall well within the ‘small class sizes’ as defined by most studies reviewed,” it states.

It continues, “Vermont has very small class sizes (relative to other states and to our own maximums in SB rule which are 20 for K-3 and 25 for 4-12).”

Another section specifies that it may be beneficial for Vermont’s schools to have a minimum standard class size. It says that Vermont’s classrooms have room to grow.

“Per the research on class size, there is room for class size increases without harming student achievement,” the study says.

Federal funds spurred spending?

Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders observed that Vermont’s education spending with federal COVID-19 related one-time funds may have – as an unintended consequence – driven up overall spending. This may have impacted the current high staffing levels/smaller class sizes.

“It is important to note that the infusion of federal funding to address the pandemic may have influenced the staffing levels during that time period and raises questions about the sustainability of staff levels in future years,” Saunders wrote in Vermont’s State Education Profile in August.

More staff/fewer students

Saunders also wrote in the same document that Vermont continues to rely on more support for fewer students.

“Since 2019-20, the number of teachers, leaders, and student services staff per 100 students has increased, meaning SU/SDs are employing a similar or higher number of staff to educate fewer students,” she wrote.

Another section says, “Compared to other states, Vermont has some of the smallest schools (46th in terms of school size) and has the highest staff levels (1st in terms of the highest number of teachers and staff per 100 pupils). Vermont is 5th in terms of total expenditures per pupil.”

Hold them accountable

See all bills assigned to this committee here. Constituents may contact committee members (click link on name for bio, party affiliation, etc.) with comments, questions, and information at the following email addresses: 

Senate Education

Seth Bongartz, Manchester, Chair, sbongartz@leg.state.vt.us

David Weeks, Proctor, Vice Chair, dweeks@leg.state.vt.us

Kesha Ram Hinsdale, Montpelier, kraminsdale@leg.state.vt.us

Nader Hashim, Windham, nhashim@leg.state.vt.us

Terry Williams, Rutland, Clerk, tkwilliams@leg.state.vt.us

Steven Heffernan, Addison, sheffernan@leg.state.vt.us

All committee transcripts are available at www.goldendomevt.com. The committee meeting video is available on the committee’s YouTube channel. The committee meets in the morning in Room 8.

The author is a writer for the Vermont Daily Chronicle