Districts across the nation are allowing larger class sizes to combat shrinking budgets. But the jury is out about how class size actually impacts student achievement. In “Class Sizes Show Signs of Growing,” Sarah Sparks writes, “Proponents of reducing class size argue that it is the simplest, most direct way to improve student achievement, while skeptics argue that the small, generalized reductions that result from most state policies don’t provide enough improvement to justify their cost.”According to the Student Teacher Achievement Ratio Project, smaller class sizes significantly impact student achievement overall, and “students placed in small class sizes in grades K-3 have better high school graduation rates, higher grade point averages, and are more inclined to pursue higher education.”

However, 2010 National Distinguished Principal Budd Dingwall, who is quoted in Sparks’ article, has a different perspective on class size. “Some schools have purposely traded smaller class sizes for other reform ideas. Codington Elementary School in Wilmington, N.C., didn’t ask for enrollment increases or budget cuts … but it did find a way to make larger class sizes work for the school,” he said. “Because North Carolina provides personnel funding based on the student-teacher ratio, not class size … [I] allowed class sizes to max out at 24 pupils in grades K-3 and at 26 in grades 4 and 5, and created a floating position for a master teacher, who can help individual teachers.”

Have budget cuts affected class sizes at your school? How has your school compensated and how has it affected student achievement?