In 1990, the superintendent of Burke County, NC , concerned about lackluster student achievement results, formed a committee to research the feasibility of implementing a reduced class-size initiative in the system's elementary schools. The committee studied the research associated with Indiana's Prime Time and Tennessee's STAR experiment. Burke County educators made the decision to reduce class size in first grade, using the Prime Time research as their model, rather than in kindergarten as had the STAR study. Based on positive evaluation findings, the project has since expanded to include all 1st and 2nd grade classrooms in all 14 elementary schools and in 3rd grade classrooms in 10 schools. Longitudinal findings continue to show the benefits of smaller classes on student achievement.
Preliminary data indicate that students have benefited academically.
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