It is common sense that smaller class sizes are beneficial to both teachers and students alike because teachers are more effective in the classroom. The reason is logical;
with fewer students to teach, teachers can coax better performance from each of them. Despite this knowledge, many children in public schools, especially in urban settings, face overcrowded schools and increasingly large classroom sizes. An overcrowded class leaves students fighting for materials and attention from the busy teacher, while not making the advances in learning that are needed. Class size is an important determinant of student outcomes and classrooms where the teacher student ratio is undesirable, at risk students slip through the cracks and do not get the attention they need. Overcrowded classrooms contribute greatly to the achievement gap because students are not getting the specialized learning and consideration from the teacher that they would get if the classroom was smaller.
Diminishing classroom size has not been made a priority because not all education policy makers believe that lowering classroom size is as important to closing the achievement gap. Studies like Tennessee Star (Student/Teacher Achievement Ratio) show that smaller class size has many benefits that prove to diminish the achievement gap, but certain factors must be in order, such as the age of the students and the quality of the teacher for the gap to lower. Smaller classrooms, 15-18 students is ideal to lower the gap and should be strongly enforced while children are in pre K and grades first to third, when the children most need guidance from a teacher. Making a class smaller will not solve the whole problem as small classrooms are only effective if the teacher is of quality, another common contributor to the widening achievement gap. Smaller class size is also proven to lower teacher attrition rate, keeping quality teachers around for longer. Minority and low income children benefit the most from smaller classroom sizes. According to STAR graduation rates rise from 70% to 88% among low income students who experienced small class sizes from grades 1-4 of their schooling.
Programs spanning grades K-3 will produce more benefits than a program that reaches students in only one or two of the primary grades because of numerous reasons like continuous teacher attention and students receiving extra help.
There have been many repeated studies that all point to the same common sense notion, smaller class size equals higher achievement from minority groups and levels the playing field for all students. Lowering class size should be made a priority in the battle against the achievement gap in US schools because with a strong base from small class size, students can build off their strong foundation and better keep up with their peers learning.
Post by: Eliza Dean