The Office of Educational Assessment of the New York City public schools conducted an evaluation of an initiative aiming to reduce the average size of second-grade classes from 29 to 25 students. Information about class size was provided by the Office of the Auditor General. In addition, field staff observed classes and interviewed teachers in a randomly selected sample of 133 second-grade classrooms. This report provides information on class size, teacher experience, instructional program, and staff development activities. Among the findings was that the average second-grade classroom was reduced in size to 25 students, according to program guidelines. It was recommended that staff development for teachers should include strategies for reducing the instances of activities which involve no productive learning for students (such as waiting, classroom management, etc.), and should include techniques for working with students for whom English is a second language. (RH)