Capitalizando en los cursos pequenos (Capitalizing on Small Class Size) / Jessica O'Connell and Stuart C. Smith.

This digest in Spanish examines school districts' efforts to reap the greatest benefit from smaller classes. Although the report discusses teaching strategies that are most effective in small classes, research has shown that teachers do not significantly change their teaching practices when they move from larger to smaller classes. Although smaller classes meant teachers spent less time on discipline and more time on individualized instruction, the key to success in CSR initiatives is high-quality instruction. However, the growing demand for teachers has swelled the ranks of those teachers lacking full credentials, and the report emphasizes the importance of staff development, which should be ongoing, school-based, and geared to create a professional community where teachers find out together what works for their students. In addition to a shortage of qualified teachers, CSR has placed a premium on classroom space. Schools have met this challenge by using portables, by remodeling existing spaces, and by reopening closed schools. Smaller schools have various options when using federal funds. Finally, the Digest offers some guidelines on what districts should focus on in class-size policy, including the targeting of money and other resources to minority and low-income students who stand the most to gain from CSR. (Contains 12 references.) (RJM)

Microfiche. [Washington D.C.]: ERIC Clearinghouse microfiches : positive.