For Immediate Release: mARCH 3, 2006 
WINNING WEEK FOR STUDENTS UNDER THE GOLD DOME By Representative Glenn Richardson, Speaker of the House 
 
CONTACT INFORMATION michelle hitt 
404.656.5020 mhitt@actmajority.com 
 
Students were the real winners this week as the legislature pressed forward toward the end of the 2006 legislative session. With bipartisan support, the House passed the Governor's "Truth in Class Size" legislation reducing class sizes for grades K-8 as early as next school year. Governor Perdue clearly outlined education as his top priority for the legislative session, and the House voted again this week to support his initiatives. 
 
For years, Georgia's parents and teachers were unclear as to the maximum number of students in a classroom despite confusing class size restrictions. Under this Governor's guidance, we are giving parents and teachers true class size reductions. 
 
This new proposal will reduce the maximum kindergarten class size in Georgia from 20 students to 18 students. Grades 1-3 will see a reduced number of students from 23 to a maximum of 21 students for core instructional classes. And grades 4-8 will see a maximum of 28 students for core instructional classes. The Governor's budget  which will be supported by this House  will fully fund the cost associated with making these important changes. 
 
It is a well known fact that smaller class sizes have a direct impact on discipline and the quality of education our students receive. Our teachers should spend their days teaching not maintaining crowd control. With fewer students, teachers will be able to provide a higher quality of instruction and pay greater attention to the individual needs of the students. 
 
Ensuring every Georgia student receives a quality education is our Governor's top priority, and I fully support his efforts to achieve that goal. These new guidelines will give Georgia's students some of the smallest class sizes in the southeast. Studies have shown that students in smaller class sizes have higher GPAs, better high school graduation rates, are more likely to graduate on time, and are more inclined to pursue a college degree. That is the foundation I want for all of our students and I am proud that the House has taken a giant step to ensure they have that opportunity. 
 
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me at my Capitol office at (404) 6565020 
 
Georgia House of Representatives | Office of the Speaker | Room 332 State Capitol | Atlanta, Georgia 30334 404.656.5020 | 404.656.5644 fax