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In recent years, home-schooled children seem to be “winning.” They have conquered national spelling bees, obtained generous scholarships to elite universities, and have even been crowned beauty queens. If home-schooled kids are enjoying such success, it is understandable why any parent would ask, “Is regular or home school best for my child?”

Like many questions about your child’s education, this particular one does not have an easy answer. It is important to consider many factors before deciding whether your child should stay at home to learn or should be sent to a regular public school.

Home environment vs. school environment

For many advocates of either homeschooling or public school education, the environment offered by either situation is the determining factor as to whether a child should be home-schooled or sent to a regular public school.

The calm, safe environment of home school

Proponents of homeschooling believe that children thrive better in a safe, comfortable environment with which they are familiar. Ironically, so do advocates of public schooling.

However, home-schoolers believe the home is the safest, most secure environment in which a child can learn. At home, a child does not have to deal with peer pressure or with fitting in with the popular cliques. A child can just “be.” This gives the child the opportunity to focus on the lessons being taught and on the educational expectations required of him or her.

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The debate on whether smaller class size corresponds with higher academic achievement is an ongoing controversy. Numerous studies have been conducted with conflicting results. Federal funding for class size reduction has been inconsistent. A 1999 federal program designed specifically to fund class size reduction was repealed by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The inconclusive results from the studies of class size reduction leave education policymakers to decide whether reducing class sizes should be a state priority in school reform. This article discusses some of the approaches states have used to regulate class size, whether current budget shortages or other changing conditions may have an unintended impact on class size initiatives, and what parents can do with respect to their child's class sizes.

This insightful article delves into states' various approaches to regulating class size, examining their effectiveness and potential unintended consequences amidst current budget shortages and changing educational landscapes. We explore how factors such as funding limitations, shifting priorities, and evolving instructional models may impact class size initiatives. Additionally, we provide valuable guidance for parents on understanding and advocating for their child's class sizes. By empowering parents with knowledge and practical steps, we aim to equip them to engage with schools, educators, and policymakers to ensure optimal learning environments for their children. Discover the complexities of class size regulations, their potential implications, and how parents can actively contribute to the conversation surrounding this critical aspect of education.

State Laws Limiting Class Size

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Common sense suggests that public school children will do better in smaller classes than in larger classes. Smaller class sizes provide the opportunity for personal attention and additional instructional help when necessary. Yet, whether smaller class sizes boost academic achievement has been examined in numerous studies with mixed results. This article examines how class size affects academic performance, where smaller class sizes can have the greatest impact, and how some critics question the benefits and cost-effectiveness of class size reduction.

Advantages of Reducing Class Size

Several studies have shown that reducing class size increases overall student achievement, especially for younger, disadvantaged children. The following are some of the benefits of fewer students in a classroom.

1. Students receive more individualized attention and interact more with the teacher.
2. Teachers have more flexibility to use different instructional approaches.
3. Fewer students are less distracting to each other than a large group of children.
4. Teachers have more time to teach because there are fewer discipline problems.
5. Students are more likely to participate in class and become more involved.
6. Teachers have more time to cover additional material and use more supplementary texts and enrichment activities.

As a practical matter, it is not possible for most public schools to hire enough teachers so that all classes in grades kindergarten through 12^th grade have no more than, for example, 18 students. Given finite resources to hire new teachers, judgments have to be made about where the additional teachers should be placed.

This TEDxTalk presents a student's perspective on small class sizes.

Studies show that students, especially younger minority and disadvantaged children, perform better when they are in classes with 19 or fewer students. Class size reduction is often embraced by elected officials because it is a popular subject with teachers and parents. There are also studies demonstrating that class size reduction is either not beneficial or not cost-effective compared to other school reforms. This article discusses the education policy of the federal government concerning class size reduction.

Before NCLB

In 1999, a Class Size Reduction (CSR) program was added to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). The goal of the CSR program was to improve educational achievement by reducing class size with fully qualified teachers. Special attention was focused on class size reduction in the early elementary grades to 18 or fewer students. To accomplish the class size reduction goal, the program sought to fund the hiring of 100,000 fully qualified teachers for grades kindergarten through third grade within seven years. The appropriations were $1.2 billion in 1999, $1.3 billion in 2000, and $1.623 billion in 2001. The CSR program was only in effect from 1999 to 2001. In its first two years, 37,000 teachers were hired.

This video offers a teacher's point of view on class size.

The use of funds under the CSR program was restricted to activities that would lead directly to hiring and training qualified teachers. Local school