An earlier version of this post appeared in the Huffington Post.

Now having studied curriculum, instruction, and education policy, I have yet to come across any study that would substantiate her claim that 40 students in a classroom is OK.

The most comprehensive study of class size, The Tennessee Study of Class Size in the Early School Grades showed a considerable advantage to students who had small class sizes in early grades. Students in poor districts benefited the most.

The Chicago Tribune's Eric Zorn explains why shoving students into what prevailing research already calls overcrowded classrooms would harm kids.



The first logical problem with CPS' position is that such moves, by design, stand to increase class sizes at the better-performing schools and harm student achievement. The entire school-closings initiative is based on estimates that a declining inner-city population has left the school system with some 100,000 empty desks, and one way to begin to close a budget deficit in the neighborhood of $1 billion is to reduce the number of schools through consolidation. But, as the Tribune reported, CPS' empty-desk calculation is based on an "ideal ... average class-size recommendation" of 30 pupils per classroom. Statewide, our story said, the elementary-school average ranges from nearly 21 in kindergarten to almost 23 in fifth grade. And current city averages range from nearly 24 in second grade to a little more than 25 in sixth grade.

Eliminating class size requirements for districts will be disastrous. If the goal is improving teaching and learning, class size caps must remain. If the goal is destabilizing the public schools to make way for more charter schools, CPS is using an effective strategy. CPS specifically has a problem with assessing its own capacity to make sweeping policy changes.



Becky Carroll's (beer glass avatar) tweets to teachers and parents.



CPS recently set a commission to task with assessing school closings in Chicago:



The commission on school closings has told Chicago Public Schools officials that shutting a large number of schools would create too much upheaval, and that it is leaning toward a recommendation for closing far fewer schools than many have feared -- possibly as few as 15, sources said.

In spite of this study, Carroll stated that CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett would make her decisions on school closings regardless of these facts : "'She's made it very clear -- this is her decision to make,' Carroll said. 'The final recommendations made to the board will be a decision she will make and own.'"

129 schools remain on the school closing hit list.

Eliminating regulations requires a great deal of trust in local decision makers. CPS time and time again has shown that it makes decisions that run counter to what is good for students based on politics.

You can't blame Carroll completely, she doesn't know about schools. Her background is public relations for a Chicago soccer team. It would have been nice for her to read a study or two before collecting that $165,000 salary.

Well, that's not entirely true. Carroll also was flak for former Governor Rod Blagojevich. She rarely mentions this, but who wants a letter of recommendation on Federal Corrections stationary?



Will there by 40 of me in a class?



CPS should change its motto from "Children First" to "Spin to Win."



Picket sign used during CTU strike.

