Does the Size of a School Matter?

Facing low enrollment and a $50 million budget deficit, the Kansas City Board of Education announced on Wednesday that it would close almost half of the city’s public schools. The “Right-Size” plan will mean closing 28 of the city’s 61 schools and eliminating 700 out of 3,000 jobs.

National education experts have said that the Kansas City schools were not responding to demographic changes and academic failure. District officials say the closings will improve achievement by allowing the system to focus its resources.

How much does school size matter? And what are the lessons learned from Kansas City?

* Herbert J. Walberg, University of Illinois

* Don Soifer, Lexington Institute

* Leonie Haimson, Class Size Matters

* Valerie E. Lee, professor, University of Michigan

* Rudy Crew, former chancellor of New York City Schools

Full Story: http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/11/does-the-size-of-a-school-matter/