NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Governor Bill Haslam acknowledges that his class size proposal has been met with "mixed reviews" but insists it would allow schools to fill high-priority teaching positions.
The Republican governor said in a speech at a luncheon hosted by The Associated Press and the Tennessee Press Association on Thursday that his administration is still working to build support for the measure.
Haslam said Tennessee is alone in limiting total class size and average enrollment.
Republican Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey said earlier at the same event that supporters have done a poor job of selling the proposal to local school administrators and parents concerned about more classes being filled to capacity.
House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh said fellow Democrats reject studies that may indicate no link between class size and student performance.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
