On January 3, 2012, Utah lawmakers planned to run a bill that would lower the class sizes.
This bill said that the class sizes would lower the class sizes to 18 children in kindergarten, 20 children in first grade, 22 children in second grade and 24 children in third grade. The Utah lawmakers think that just the class sizes Kindergarten Third grade should be the only ones that should have the smaller classes. A member of the senate named Morgan gave her reason why she thinks that k-3 have smaller class sizes so those children can get those basic foundational skills they need" and "In order for a teacher to be able to give that focused instruction, they need to have fewer children in the classroom." There are quit a few of people in education that think that class sizes in Utah should be reduced. To answer the question above why are children doing so poorly? Well the most recent reason is that the class sizes are too big. Is this a probable cause? Yes. The article by Sabrina Maisel Does Class Size Matter shows that a standard 4th and 8th grade reading test was given in all 50 states. They looked to see if there was a correlation between test scores and class size. The research showed that the smaller classes usually get higher test scores.
Fewer than 1/3 of all 8th graders in the US scored 'proficient' or better for their grade level on national reading, math or science tests in 2005 Some states had as few as 1 in 7 students achieve proficient scores No state achieved even the 50% proficient level.
2005 NAEP Test Results, US Dept of Education
The states with the smaller class sizes are able to provide more to the individuals needs of the students. An article by Sabrina Maisel talks about the school ratio for teachers and students. In 2004, the public school ratio between student and teacher varied by a factor of two, or 100%, from a low of 11.3 in Vermont, to a high of 22.6 in Utah. In the subject of reading they compared the 4th and 8th grade reading scores. In the chart below shows the student to teacher ratio to the percent of proficient or higher.
In California, they reduced their classroom size to see if there was any improvement with the smaller class size. An article by Amanda Morin states that they had to find new teachers since the class sizes was smaller. However, she also states there was a noted improvement in teacher turnover. At least one study found that teachers were more likely to stay longer when the number of students for whom they were responsible decreased. Then there are two studies that prove smaller classes do help the children. The studies were by Finn & Gerber and Chetty, el al. these studies show that the children in early elementary grades with smaller classes were significantly more likely to graduate from high school, go to college, become homeowners and have 401(k) accounts. But if we would allow smaller class sizes the improvements will be slow coming and would be more recognizable in the long run. In the diagram below shows the states that have class sizes below and above average in the Unites States.
Overall we can see how the class size does matter when it comes to our childrens education. They have done tests that have proved how smaller class sizes increased the students test scores. There was also statistic that showed how likely it was for them to succeed after they are done with school. These children are the future of America and we should do everything in our power to make sure that they are getting the resources that they need even if it means that we shrink the class sizes.
Works Cited
Class Size Reduction. (n.d.). Retrieved 2 28, 2014, from About.com: http://childparenting.about.com/od/schoollearning/a/do-smaller-classes-work-better.htm Maisel, S. (2014). Does class size matter. Retrieved 2 28, 2014, from SuperKids: http://www.superkids.com/aweb/pages/features/reportcard2007/class_size.shtml#author The Salt Lake Trribune. (2012, 1 2). Retrieved 2 28, 2014, from ProQuest: http://search.proquest.com.dbprox.slcc.edu/docview/913401794/733BD1B61B444ACFPQ/2?ac countid=28671 Schencker, L. (2012, Feb 04). Bill to reduce utah class sizes advances. The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/919808492?accountid=28671
