Recognizing the contradictory or inconclusive findings on class size in English, this booklet provides a summary and analysis of existing class size research and describes the kinds of research that would shed new light on the question of class size and secondary English. The first section contains the report of the Task Force on Class Size and…

Use level, visual encounters, crowding expectations, and feelings were examined by regression techniques to explain perceived crowding among innertube floaters. Degree of user specialization and specificity for any given activity and place is offered as an explanation for the discrepancy from previous findings. (Author/DF)

Introductory psychology students were introduced to the topic of crowding by experiencing high density in physical arrangements of the classroom. Results did not demonstrate the complexity and possible interactive effects of crowding variables. Students gained insights into other aspects of crowding, experimental design, and interpreting…

Examined association between residential density and parent/child speech in toddlers and parents participating in the University of Kansas Language Acquisition Project. Found that parents in crowded homes spoke with children in less complex, sophisticated ways than parents in uncrowded homes. The association was mediated by parental…

Given most AmeriCorps members' passion and dedication, a recent college graduate assigned to an overcrowded Oakland middle school felt guilty about her half-hearted commitment to Teach for America. She gradually realized her situation was all too realistic and typical of teachers serving in underresourced schools across the nation. (MLH)

A detailed assessment of the average class size in Massachusetts public schools is provided in this report, which includes the means and ranges of average class size and a description of class size across grade levels, subject area, and community type. Data were collected from the Chapter 188 Individual School Report (1987-88), an annual survey of…

This report, intended for local and state policy makers and practitioners, summarizes the findings and implications of class-size reduction (CSR) in California. The report's findings provide a comprehensive picture of California's CSR initiative during its first 2 years, covering such topics as implementation, resources, teacher qualifications,…

Research findings are reported of a study (N=88 undergraduate males) of molar crowding in urban centers which involved the simultaneous variation of social density, spatial density, noise, and personality as they effect room affect (physical and psychological). Several main effects proved significant. (Author/DC)

Describes Capistrano (California) Unified School District's use of portable classrooms to solve overenrollment problems while complying with Governor Wilson's directive to reduce class size in primary grades. When evaluating the merits of relocatable classrooms, school leaders should consider acquisition and use, identification of responsible…

Several districts have taken a radical approach to middle/high school transitions, removing ninth-graders from the mix to give them the attention needed to succeed in high school. Three ninth-grade-only schools with 720 to 750 students in Virginia, Texas, and Pennsylvania are profiled. Students experience less social pressure from upper-classmen.…

A need for more classrooms and a desire to improve student achievement contributed to the decision by the Capistrano Unified School District to offer a K-8 school option for parents recently. The two-year journey began as a consequence of overcrowding at 10 middle schools. One section of the district, had spent several years unsuccessfully trying…

Public opinion surveys conducted by Public Agenda confirm that parents, students, and educators from diverse ethnic groups share the same fundamental aspirations for education and agree on the basic reforms needed in schools. The author, a senior advisor for Public Agenda, describes survey findings that suggest that all groups see education as the…

This report examines the class size conditions in New York City's lowest performing schools--the 408 Schools in Need of Improvement (SINI) or Schools Requiring Academic Progress (SRAP) identified by the state. This report examines a detailed analysis of class size and enrollment data for each grade in each of these schools and determines how many…

The idea of converting to year-round education (YRE) comes from different sources, such as communities concerned about idle youth and taxpayer groups upset about empty buildings during the summer. The most prevalent reasons are overcrowded schools and unavailable construction funds, due to failed school bond proposals or refusal to raise taxes.…

This report examines the Chicago Public School System's need for capital improvement, and it highlights action plans for the future. The report reveals that many planned school improvements projects are unfunded and that there is about $229 million worth of projects that no longer appear in the city's capital improvements plan. Overcrowding…