Article reanalyzes and expands upon data from Tennessee's Project STAR which examined the effects of class size reduction on student achievement in the primary grades. It describes six competing theories of class size impact on achievement and test performance, settling on the student group/modeling interpretation of study data. (SM)

A federal grant enabled the Tacoma (Washington) school district to hire additional first-grade teachers, provide ongoing staff development, and encourage teacher collaboration. In smaller classes, children are more focused, get the attention they need, and present fewer discipline problems. Relationships with parents have also improved. A sidebar…

School choice has become a widespread policy for improving education. Because the goal of choice is to provide high-quality education to all students, we examined student perceptions in applying to and attending four high schools that are successful in educating low-income students and students of color. Students chose schools based on perceived…

The search for the best educational environment, especially in terms of class size, is an important educational issue for parents, teachers, administrators, and government officials. Parents and educators argue that smaller class size leads to more effective teaching and improved learning for students. Government officials argue that substantial…

Small-group instruction is designed to develop group and individual interaction of all students. This learning module presents three groups of activities which should maximize small-group effectiveness. These activities are categorized according to functions best suited for small-group instruction, organization of the small group, and pointers for…

St. Louis schools are served by five major programs funded by Title I of the Elementary Secondary Education Act of 1965. The Reading Improvement Teams help those children whose reading deficit is the greatest. Each team is composed of a principal, a reading assistant, a remedial reading teacher, a reading aide, and 10 classroom teachers. The Rooms…

The Elementary Secondary Education Act of 1965 Title I Transition Classes were designed to establish a more stable yet flexible learning environment specifically adapted to the adjustment needs of selected disadvantaged pupils in the initial year of junior high school. Unique dimensions of the project included sefl-contained classes, teacher-team…

This manual draws together evolving information about how group size influences what the group does and how learning tasks may be designed and employed to accomplish desired outcomes. The manual includes ideas from research on class size and its outcomes; theories of learning and development; and validated experiences of expert educators. It…

This report describes a study designed to discover the nature of teacher-student interactions in regular-size classes with 25 or more students and small-size classes with fewer than 18 students. Eleven public-school primary classrooms were observed, and the interactions between the teachers and students were studied. Verbal and nonverbal…

Classroom interaction data from traditional and activity-based English classes of different sizes are compared in terms of opportunities for learners to interact meaningfully. Findings suggest that the nature of the teaching-learning activities and the teacher's role and attitude influence learner participation more than class size. (24…

Examines whether class size in the introductory-level economics course affects subsequent performance in intermediate-level economics courses. Studies University of Massachusetts (Boston) students who are allowed to choose large or small lecture classes. Finds that students enrolled in large sections received lower grades in subsequent…

A survey of one national and three statewide studies (in Tennessee, Texas, and Alabama) of class-size achievement effects revealed no consistent pattern across various subjects and grade levels. However, smaller classes can improve student achievement, particularly in early grades and when teacher quality remains constant. (Contains 36 footnotes.)…

At Coppin State University, a historically Black university, nearly 120 ninth-graders are enrolled in the Coppin Academy. The academy is one of nearly a dozen such innovative school partnerships nationwide, aiming to apply study results that suggest that African-American students may perform better in smaller, more personalized learning…

Blaming unsatisfactory student achievement on the middle school concept is a case of mistaken identity. Too many middle schools have failed to fully implement the middle school concept. Based on statements from the Carnegie Council and the National Middle School Association, the middle school concept calls for improved academic achievement for all…

A recent study by Civic Enterprises for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation examined the views of diverse youth, ages 16-25, who had failed to complete high school. "The Silent Epidemic: Perspectives of High School Dropouts" lists students' reasons for leaving school and suggests actions that schools, states, and the federal government can take.…