Close to 4 percent of public school teacher positions in Oklahoma were eliminated last year as districts across the state dealt with budget cuts and a shortage of trained teachers.

A survey of school districts by the Oklahoma State School Boards Association found 1,530 teaching positions were removed over the past school year, according to results made public Monday. Another 1,351 support staff positions also were cut.

Half of all school districts in the state said larger class sizes would be a reality in the new school year.

“If I spend 20 minutes grading an assignment per student and you give me just three more students, that's an extra hour a week,” said Lara Searcy, an education professor at Northeastern State University who works with future teachers.