OCEANSIDE – Kindergartners are expected to keep their small class sizes, at least for the next school year.

The anticipated move late last night by trustees of the Oceanside Unified School District was expected to reverse tentative plans to increase kindergarten class sizes this fall from 20 to 30 students per teacher for at least half the school day.

Oceanside Unified had planned for the change as part of deep budget cuts for the 2008-09 school year, the result of state budget cuts to public education. But school administrators were able to obtain funds under the federal No Child Left Behind Act to keep classes small.

The school board vote, to approve the use of federal funds, was expected late last night.

About $6.4 million in cuts to the 2008-09 budget have forced the district to lay off 32 teachers, which is expected to raise class sizes in fourth grade through 12th grade. Other cuts have included closing Ditmar Elementary School and Clair Burgener Academy, eliminating most middle school busing and cutting district office expenses.

Teachers and parents say small class sizes are critical for kindergartners, helping them to focus more on acquiring basic reading and math skills, and to form healthy school habits. Academic research on the effectiveness of small class sizes in kindergarten is mixed, however.

The expected decision to keep kindergarten classes small signaled a bright spot for many teachers and parents in a difficult budget season. In a separate vote last night, the school board was also scheduled to approve a $167.5 million budget for 2008-09.

Some main features of the budget:

88 percent of the budget is committed to salaries and benefits for employees.

Nearly $25 million is set aside for special education.

The district's projected average daily attendance for 2008-09 is 18,960 – down from 20,854 in 2003-04.

The district has estimated that it will receive about $2.7 million from the state lottery.