Does class size matter?

The number of students in elementary classes throughout Seattle varies from 14 to 32, and some of the largest class sizes can be found at some of the district's most sought-after elementary schools. Given that, does class size really matter? An article by Jessica Blanchard in the February 11 issue of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer examines this issue.

Many parents take class size into account as they shop around for public schools, and the Washington Education Association has made lobbying for lower class sizes its top priority for this legislative session. Still, Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson maintains that "the bottom line is quality of teaching in the classroom."

Blanchard quotes several teachers and gives an example of how one school in Seattle uses PTA fundraisers to keep class sizes low. For further information, read the full article.