School Size: Why "Smaller" May Not Be the Answer

Autor/in	Stevenson, Kenneth R.
Titel	School Size: Why "Smaller" May Not Be the Answer
Quelle	In: ERS Spectrum, 27 (2009) 2, S.1-10 (10 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0740-7874
Schlagwörter	School Size; Small Schools; Educational Environment; Academic Achievement; Educational Quality; Socioeconomic Influences; Family Environment; Parent Influence; Poverty; Costs; Evaluation Methods; Student Evaluation; Instructional Program Divisions + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? School; Schools; Schule; Lernumgebung; Pädagogische Umwelt; Schulumwelt; Schulleistung; Quality of education; Bildungsqualität; Sozioökonomischer Faktor; Familienmilieu; Armut; Cost; Kosten; Schulnote; Studentische Bewertung
Abstract	School districts, and even states, striving to identify optimal school size are confounded more often than not by the conflicting research findings and theoretical arguments presented throughout the literature. Some writers adamantly declare that smaller schools are a "must" if educational opportunity is to be optimized. Others argue that school size itself has little impact on student performance, suggesting that other variables "masked" in school size are the real factors affecting student success. Yet others imply that smaller schools may make a difference in student performance, but the excessive cost to move in that direction is not warranted. They postulate that similar, if not better, results may be produced at less expense through enhanced technology, better instructional materials, and further professionalizing the teaching corps. Finally, some researchers studying school size indicate that, if school size does affect learning, its influence may vary greatly, depending upon the clientele served. The truth is, however, that the real effects of school size, if any, are not yet fully known--and may never be. While the topic has been studied extensively, the findings have been mixed, and often contradictory. Part of the reason for such varied results rests with differences in research methodologies. However, there are also some other common sense explanations as to why school size research findings diverge, sometimes significantly. This article is an inventory of factors that affect school size research findings, along with suggested implications for districts and states making decisions about how many students their schools should house. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10