K-3 Class Size Reduction

Reducing class sizes as a school reform strategy has gained widespread support in recent years. Much of the activity to enhance student achievement through such reductions is based on the results of a major Tennessee project, now in its twelfth year.

In 1985, the state of Tennessee, under the leadership of Governor Lamar Alexander, funded Project STAR (Student-Teacher Achievement Ratio). The project authorized a four-year study of the effects of class sizes of 15-17 students in grades K-3 on student achievement. After studying academic test results, Project STAR showed that students in all settings- suburban, urban, inner-city, and rural- benefited from the smaller classes.

WEAC Class Size Study:

In early December, 1996, a representative sample of slightly more than 1,100 elementary school teachers in grades K-6 was selected from WEAC's membership roles. Teachers were asked to complete a two-page questionnaire on class sizes and class assignments. In all, questionnaires were returned by 522 persons (a 48% response rate). The teachers included in the WEAC study teach predominantly regular education students. Teachers who meet almost exclusively with special needs students during the day are not included in the final data set.

Key findings of the WEAC Class Size Study:

• At the kindergarten level, 92% of Wisconsin's classrooms currently exceed the standard established by Project STAR of 15 or fewer students per teacher. In fact, 27% of kindergarten teachers report classes of 25 or more students.
• For teachers in grades 1-6, 94% of the self-contained classrooms exceed a 15-student maximum. Among teachers who meet with multiple classes each day, one-fourth meet with more than 125 students daily.
• Class size policies have been established by approximately 39% of Wisconsin school districts. 77% of those districts allow 25 or more students in a classroom. This figure far exceeds the number required for optimum student achievement.
• Most kindergarten classes in Wisconsin's public schools have between 20 and 22 students. Approximately 27% of kindergarten teachers report that their classes consist of 25 or more students.

Legislative History:

The 1995-97 state budget created a pilot program called the Student Achievement Guarantee in Education (SAGE) program. The purpose of SAGE is to raise the achievement levels of children from low-income families by reducing K-3 class size to a ratio of 15-1. Initially, 30 schools in 20 school districts participated in SAGE.

Governor Thompson’s 1997-99 state budget, however, froze SAGE funding, thereby reneging on a commitment to expand the SAGE program to the second and third grade levels. After significant lobbying by WEAC and other supporters, SAGE funding was expanded by $12.8 million to fully fund the program.

Another proposal to establish $100 million in state K-3 achievement grants to reduce class size was offered as an amendment to the 1997-99 budget. That program, however, was not part of the final bill.

WEAC Position:

WEAC supports full funding for the SAGE program and supports legislation to establish K-3 achievement grants to reduce class size in additional school districts throughout the state.

Talking Points:

• Research suggests that class size reductions can be a powerful tool for enhancing student achievement. Class size policies which bring about significant reductions in K-3 classrooms offer Wisconsin the opportunity to introduce a meaningful educational reform into the school improvement efforts.
• A recent study by Education Week awarded Wisconsin's public schools a grade of "C" for "school climate," essentially because many elementary teachers have classes of 25 or more.

For Additional Information:

Contact Bob Burke in the WEAC Government Relations Division at 800-362- 8034 ext. 254 or by e-mail at burkeb@weac.org with any reactions, comments or questions.

Posted July 13, 1998