Van Pelt and Allison: Class size isn't what makes the difference

Class size matters. But perhaps not for the reasons you think.
As one recent Ontario study claims, class size is one of the most researched, debated, scrutinized and politicized issues in education. And perhaps the most misunderstood and perennially puzzling. The vast research findings are so mixed and influenced by other factors that focusing on class size alone is a mistake.
Smaller classes have an undeniably powerful appeal. One of the more stable research findings is that teachers and parent