Class Sizes On The Rise

The Chattanooga (TN) Times Free Press (3/14, Gauthier) reports, "For years, Hamilton County [TN] has taken pride in smaller class sizes and schools, but officials say that luxury may be a thing of the past. As long as the school system continues to cut its budget year after year, class sizes won't be shrinking any time soon, said spokeswoman Danielle Clark." Secretary of Education Arne Duncan "acknowledges that class sizes will keep growing" and suggests "that schools think outside the box and reduce class sizes based on the skill of the teacher, or use part-time staff to decrease class sizes during 'critical reading blocks.'"