LOS ANGELES, CA - Well, it turns out that size really does matter when it comes to classes, according to new research out of Northwestern University.
Class size is a huge factor in students’ successes AND failures, and it’s something that’s totally dictated by policy.
The decision to increase class sizes is always a budgetary one. But the study shows that any money that can be saved by increasing class size will cause much larger social and educational costs down the road.
Large class sizes are hurting low-income and minority students the most, researchers found.
Northwestern University Associate Professor Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach advises that “policymakers should carefully weigh the efficacy of class-size policy against other potential uses of funds.”
Yes, having smaller class sizes and hiring more teachers is more expensive, but it will save money in the long run.
If children are our future, shouldn’t we invest in them?