"Size" Matters
As a former teacher and current union organizer, I am glad to hear that education continues to be a priority this campaign. It is not the top issue, but at least candidates aren’t overlooking it altogether.
So, I started thinking about education reform. And as a former educator, I know that one of the most important pieces of the reform debate should focus on class size.
When a teacher or paraeducator has a classroom with 30 or more students, with little to no room to move about, they spend most of their time trying to keep order and maintain discipline. It is just a fact. Most research says that 15 students to 1 teacher is best.
But if you don’t trust me, consider the data. Project STAR, a Tennessee-based initiative yielded some of the most convincing data for reducing class size. The program spanned five years, from 1985-1990, involved grades K-3, utilizing 72 schools in 49 districts, and involving 1,367 students and 11,600 teachers. By significantly reducing class size, there were greater academic benefits in every grade in every subject tested. In addition, professionals were able to significantly close the achievement gap and minority and low-income students included in the program were more likely to:
- Take advanced coursework in high school
- Take college entrance exams
- Graduate from high school
There are others, including programs in Burke County, North Carolina.
While there are provisions under the No Child Left Behind Act that address small class size, those aren’t enough. The National Education Association has made class size a high-priority in its 2008 Legislative Agenda, as well as a key component of its efforts to fix No Child Left Behind.
Currently, two pieces of legislation are out there. Senate Bill 2122, the Facilitating Outstanding Classrooms Using Size Reduction Act (FOCUS Act), would authorize a $2 billion per year program to assist states and local educational agencies in recruiting, hiring, and training 1000,000 teachers in order to reduce class sizes nationally, in kindergarten through third grade, to an average of 18 students per regular classroom. A similar bill, HR 2668, would call for $2 billion per year to go to states and school districts to reduce class size for both regular and special needs children, with consideration given to reducing class size in the early elementary grades.
Sound like a good investment to me! What do you think?
By Cory Wofford, NEA staff in Michigan