ATLANTA -- Classrooms are about to get more crowded in schools all across Georgia.

The state school board reluctantly agreed to give local school districts the option to increase class size by as much as they feel is necessary to combat their budget shortfalls.

"Nobody wants to do this," said state school superintendent Kathy Cox shortly after the vote. "But again, we are really at a point where we don't have a choice."

Local school districts are under intense financial pressure as falling property tax assessments have ravaged their budgets. Cox also pointed out the state cut $940 million from QBE funding. So many districts are looking at increasing class sizes as a way to save money. Fewer teachers are needed if a class holds 40 students rather than 24. But Cox doesn't believe local districts will start cramming kids into classrooms.

School Systems Can Now Increase Class Size

She says districts must still meet minimum academic standards and are still answerable to voters, so she believes local boards will keep the class sizes manageable.

"This is a very difficult time," said Cox, who is stepping down as superintendent next month to take a private sector job. "It’s for one year only and let's hope this can start us down the road of building some trust between state government and your local school systems.”

The board voted 9-2 to allow local districts to increase class sizes. One board member tried to pass a measure that would have limited how large districts could raise sizes to just 20% but she was defeated.

This will go into effect immediately and last only one year.

Cox pointed out that 106 of Georgia's 181 school systems have already requested and received a waiver on class sizes.