Classes in more than half of the city's schools are growing larger, according to a new report by the New York State Department of Education, despite Contracts for Excellence funding directed at decreasing classes and lowering the student/teacher ratio.

While class sizes dropped in many schools citywide, classes actually grew in 53.9 percent of schools. In addition, the NYSED noted 70 city schools that received $100,000 or more where either class size or the student/teacher ratio increased. The estimated damage? $20 million in wasted funds, according to Leonie Haimson of Class Size Matters.

Already-large schools were most challenged by first-year size reduction targets, said NYSED, which criticized DOE reporting and record keeping and urged better compliance in coming years' efforts. It also asked for stricter accounting of how class-reduction funds were spent and for more stringent review of New York City's C4E funding. In other words, accountability and transparency; sound familiar?