Re: Moscow School District budget cuts

["John and Laurie Danahy" <JDANAHY@turbonet.com>]

Sue;
     Your assumption that the state passed 20 students per class is neither
a mandate or goal is, unfortunately, typically wrong.  20 students per class
is an average, not specific to grade level, and it is the level that is
funded.  We can all play with words, but if 20 per is funded, then it is a
mandate and a goal.  If you want smaller class sizes in K-3 then get the
state to fund smaller class sizes.
John
John and Laurie Danahy
jdanahy@turbonet.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Sue Hovey <suehovey@moscow.com>
To: scooke@uidaho.edu <scooke@uidaho.edu>; jdanahy@turbonet.com
<jdanahy@turbonet.com>
Cc: Vision2020 Listserver (E-mail) <vision2020@moscow.com>
Date: Thursday, April 29, 1999 12:44 AM
Subject: Re: Moscow School District budget cuts


>Steve, this was the STAR Program in Tennessee.  It was well documented and
>the data revealed that children in grades 1 - 3 (the only ones the study
>used) significantly benefit from classes of under 15 or fewer.  There were
>several configerations--more students and 2 teachers, more students and a
>teacher and an aide, etc.  The results were dramatic (particularly with
>literacy) and the Tennessee effort continues because of that study which
was
>done a decade ago or more.  Because STAR was so successful several other
>states took serious steps to ensure not more than 15 students in grades K-3
>on a statewide basis.  Idaho legislation passed to set a level of 20 per
>primary class, but that was never a mandate and it is no longer even a
>legislative goal.  Indiana was one which did set a specific mandate and  I
>believe that program also continues.
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Steve Cooke <scooke@uidaho.edu>
>To: <jdanahy@turbonet.com>
>Cc: Vision2020 Listserver (E-mail) <vision2020@moscow.com>
>Sent: Monday, April 26, 1999 11:49 AM
>Subject: RE: Moscow School District budget cuts
>
>
>> John,
>>  In the 20 April issue of the New York Times business section, there is a
>> story on a Princeton economist who has shown that small class size in the
>> first four grades makes a significant difference in students performance
>> for the rest of their life. The analysis is based on a program in
>Tennessee
>> to reduce class sizes.
>>  This study suggests that teacher cuts at the higher grades are better
>than
>> ones at the lower levels. I say this as a parent with sons in the 5th and
>> 12th grade next year.
>> Steve Cooke
>>
>>
>