First of all, students in smaller classes generally perform
better in academics than those in larger classes. Project STAR
was a project run in Tennessee from 1985 to about 1999. It
compared the academics of kindergarten through third grade
children taught in smaller classes (13-17 kids) to those in
larger classes (22-26 kids). The results were stunning. The
small class children substantially outperformed the larger class
children. The rates of second grade suspension went down. The
district even went from low tier in math and reading to middle
tier in the state. Since smaller classes have been proven to
outperform larger classes, then we should transition to smaller
class sizes. Secondly, being in smaller classes early on has
lasting effects throughout the child's years in school. Project
STAR saw that fourth grade children who had been in smaller
classes in K-3 were better behaved, probably due to the less
discipline needed to quiet a smaller class. Students also had
better grades than those in larger class