This study examined the effects of teacher aides on students' academic achievement, addressing: whether the presence of a full-time aide in K-3 classrooms would affect student achievement; whether the presence of an aide in the primary grades would affect students' later academic achievement (grades 4, 6, and 8); and whether the nature of aide…

Used data from Tennessee's Project STAR, a longitudinal class size experiment, to study the cumulative effects of reduced class size in the early grades on academic achievement. Results indicated that controlling for achievement in the previous year, small classes in grades 1-3 yielded statistically significant additional positive effects on…

A survey of 75 parents of elementary students with physical disabilities investigated their perspectives regarding the factors essential for placement into integrated physical-education programs. Results found they believed that class size, program support, physical and communicative skills, health status, and motivation were prerequisites of an…

Analyzed data from a five-year followup of students in Tennessee's Student/Teacher Achievement Ratio (STAR) project, a four-year large-scale randomized examination of the effects of class size on academic achievement. Results suggest that class-size benefits persist for at least five years and remain large enough to be important to educational…

This study examined the impact of smaller class size on elementary student achievement, focusing on types of instructional strategies utilized, student time on task, academic focus of the classroom, and types of interactions between teachers and students and between students and students. Two long-term class size reduction sites in North Carolina…

A short overview of an experimental evaluation of lower teacher-pupil ratios is presented in this report. The research under review is the Student Teacher Achievement Ratio (STAR) project. This longitudinal project was conducted in Tennessee and was designed to prove to state legislators the efficacy of smaller class sizes. For STAR, evaluation…

In 1989, the Nevada Legislature enacted the Class-Size Reduction (CSR) Act. The measure was designed to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio in the public schools, particularly in the earliest grades. The program was scheduled to proceed in several phases. The first step reduced the student-teacher ratio in selected kindergartens and first grade classes…

This study evaluated the Class Size Reduction (CSR) program in 34 elementary schools in Kentucky's Jefferson County Public Schools. The CSR program is a federal initiative to help elementary schools improve student learning by hiring additional teachers. Qualitative data were collected using unstructured interviews, site observations, and document…

Examined what actually transpires in California's reduced-size classrooms, using systematic classroom observations and teacher and student interviews at four elementary schools. Results indicated that, overall, teachers still used whole-class instruction (though they perceived they used varied instructional strategies). Most learning activities…

This is a report of a study designed to discover the nature of interactions between teachers and students in regular-size classes (25 or more students) and small-size classes (fewer than 18 students). It also describes the efforts of one public school to maintain smaller classes. A review of the literature and observations of 11 primary classrooms…

The purpose of this paper was to share findings from an earlier study and to provide a framework for administrators to use in the implementation of class-size reduction (CSR) in their buildings. The study examined actual and average class size (CS), pupil-teacher ratios (PTR), and their differences. A primary goal was to clarify the ramifications…

Researchers followed up on fourth graders from Project STAR, a reduced class size experiment. Using norm and criterion-referenced achievement tests and teacher ratings of student effort, initiative, and behavior, they found significant small class carry-over effects on every achievement measure and significant participation differences in small…

This study examined the impact of class size reduction (CSR) on achievement among 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students with different numbers of years of participation in CSR. Single-year matched gains were calculated for the 1997-1998 and 1999-2000 school years. Student progress was assessed using scores from the SAT/9 reading, mathematics, and…

Given the failure of previous research to find consistent effects of class size on students' achievement, this study examined whether teachers in British elementary schools changed their behavior in ways conducive to learning when they worked with classes significantly smaller than average. Seven pairs of elementary school teachers judged as…

A class size reduction (CSR) program was implemented in a large low-performing urban elementary school district. The CSR program helps schools improve student learning by hiring additional teachers so that children in the early elementary grades can attend smaller classes. This study used a participant-oriented evaluation model to examine the…