How many is too many?

27?
25?

The Washington Post today reports that some school districts around D.C. are already forecasting higher class sizes for next year, as they look at a bleak forecast for FY10:

Nationwide, the average number of students in elementary classes dropped from 29 in 1961 to 24 in 1996, according to the National Education Association. In 2004, the average elementary class nationwide had 20 children, the U.S. Education Department says, with about 25 in the average secondary class.

And Worcester? You'll remember that we've had officials pleased that we have no elementary classes higher than 27. And that was after we fought to get extra money in the budget.

While it's often cited that there is no replacement for having a qualified, well-educated, well-trained teacher in the class, class sizes matter. As you'll see in the article, optimal size for elementary classes are 15 or 16 kids. Our local elementary school just had a class that had been 30 from kindergarten split (due to the aforementioned additional teachers) in half. The parents are raving over what a difference they are seeing their children's education. Same teachers, same kids, better ratio.
It matters. Get ready to battle it out on this one.