Nearly a Decade Into Small-Class Law, Calif. Educators Love Imperfect Effort

Riverside, Calif.

When California set out nearly 10 years ago to reduce class sizes in the early grades, educators nationwide looked West with awe and envy at the ambitious move to ease the task of teaching millions of the state’s youngest students.

Across the Golden State, districts jumped at the chance to hire new teachers and lower the size of classes in kindergarten through 3rd grade, which in most areas exceeded 30 pupils. Within a year, the average class size for 1st grade had dropped to about 18.

California schools, it seemed,...