The missing elements are three. First, nothing in the current decision process encourages targeting class size reductions to situations where they are effective. Second, class size reductions necessarily involve hiring more teachers, and teacher quality is much more important than class size in affecting student outcomes. Third, class size reduction is very expensive, and little or no consideration is given to alternative and more productive uses of those resources. And if his position stands, students and the taxpaying public will be the big losers.
Politicians can take credit for pursuing identifiable policies aimed at improving student outcomes.
Teachers and other school personnel see added resources coming into schools without pressures to take responsibility for student performance. In Hanushek's analysis, class-size reduction is far more about politics than performance. Sadly, Kenny Guinn just walked away from the job. His column appears Wednesday.