State legislators are going to have to do their homework better. At least that's what the principal (aka Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger) told them.

Rejecting what he sees as a piecemeal approach to school reform, the governor sent back legislation that would have granted districts limited flexibility in establishing student-teacher ratios in kindergarten through third grade. He kept it alive by not vetoing it.

The current law, which limits K-3 class sizes to 20 is voluntary. But to encourage participation, the state dangles a carrot by paying $906 per student as an incentive. Districts lose funding if a classroom exceeds the cap.

The governor's move is a proper response.

True, school officials who have sought modifications to the class-size reduction program argue that rigid rules increase costs, tie up space and faculty. But the governor is worried that the legislation isn't broad enough. Critics also contend it could again start the state on the slippery slope of super-crowded classrooms in the first three grades.

Experts say success of students in those grades often determines their success as they proceed through the educational system.

Under the measure, SB 311 by Sen. Byron Sher, D-Palo Alto, districts that exceed the 20-1 pupil teacher ratio in K-through third grades would lose only a portion of state funds, rather than the full $18,000 per class in current law.

Classes could average nearly 22 pupils over the course of a year without losing the entire amount.

Schwarzenegger wants Sher to include in his bill a comprehensive package granting school districts more say over running $2 billion worth of various categorical programs. This would include bilingual teacher training, transportation and dropout prevention.

Ashley Snee, a spokeswoman for the governor, said Schwarzenegger is not unilaterally opposed to changing class-size enrollment rules. But, she added, reforms to provide flexibility cannot be done piece by piece.

Sher introduced his flexible class-size reduction bill at the urging of school officials around the state.

During the fiscal crisis, some district leaders told him they need more flexibility in the program to weather the fiscal squeeze.

Some school superintendents in the state (none in Kern County) have recommended scrapping the class-size reduction efforts to bring their district's budget in line.

A similar bill was passed last year by the Legislature, but vetoed by then Gov. Gray Davis. He justified the veto by stating that "by relaxing the penalties for infractions of the class-size limits, this bill would only serve to provide fiscal incentive to reduce the educational benefits of the current program."

That is also the danger in the current Sher bill. But it would be more acceptable if the legislator did as the governor outlined and incorporate a comprehensive educational package. It also wouldn't hurt if a student-teacher ratio in the first three grades would be capped at 22 and for only one or two years.