Summarizes research findings on a Tennessee experiment in small classes for primary grades--Project STAR (Student/Teacher Achievement Ratio)--and on similar projects in other states. Discusses effects on student achievement and classroom discipline, effects of small classes versus larger classes with teacher aide, costs, long-term impacts, and…

For years the issue of class size has been the subject of hundreds of educational research studies. The effects of class size on student achievement, student and teacher attitudes, instructional setting, and total classroom environment have been examined and re-examined. In general, the findings of these studies have been inconclusive, though for…

Exploring the class-size issue, this paper focuses on the primary grades and asks questions such as "does a reduction in class size promote an increase in academic achievement?" and "how substantial does the reduction in numbers have to be in order for a significant increase to occur?" The paper surveys debates on class size…

Although experimental results indicate that smaller classes promote higher achievement in early elementary school, the broader literature on class-size effects is inconclusive. This seeming contradiction raises questions about the generalizability of experimental evidence, an issue that this article addresses by examining the effects of class size…

As a result of the Morgan-Hart Class Size Reduction Act of 1989, San Juan (California) Unified School District was able to reduce the number of students in freshman English classes from over 30 to 20 in the spring semester 1991. This reduction of at least 10 students per class was a welcome change for high school students and their teachers. The…

During 1999/2000, the Saginaw, Michigan public schools implemented a reduced class size program in grades 1 and 2. At grade 1 (23 rooms), reduced-size classes were maintained at no more than 18 pupils; at grade 2 (5 rooms), the limit was 21 pupils. Comparison classes were identified to assess the impact of the program. Students in both conditions…

Reports that the debate over class size in schools has become more heated in recent years. Examines recent research and attempts to answer three questions regarding class size and academic achievement. Concludes that there is a link between the 2, but only in the early years and only with classes smaller than 20 students. (CFR)