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Friday, November 9, 2012

Expert: Small classes key to school, life success - SFGate

Expert: Small classes key to school, life success - SFGate:


Expert: Small classes key to school, life success

Published 5:24 p.m., Thursday, November 8, 2012



AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Students in smaller public-school classes tend to do better on standardized tests and even eventually become better citizens, more likely to own their own homes and save for retirement, an expert told Texas' sweeping school finance trial Thursday.
Northwestern University economist Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach testified before state District Judge John Dietz that she could not advocate for a specific student-to-teacher ratio that would improve educational outcomes. But she said that study after academic study shows that smaller classes often mean greater success for students.
More than 600 school districts have sued the state, claiming the way it funds schools is so


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/texas/article/Expert-Small-classes-key-to-school-life-success-4021791.php#ixzz2BjHKBrAM