Introductory psychology students were introduced to the topic of crowding by experiencing high density in physical arrangements of the classroom. Results did not demonstrate the complexity and possible interactive effects of crowding variables. Students gained insights into other aspects of crowding, experimental design, and interpreting…

Examined association between residential density and parent/child speech in toddlers and parents participating in the University of Kansas Language Acquisition Project. Found that parents in crowded homes spoke with children in less complex, sophisticated ways than parents in uncrowded homes. The association was mediated by parental…

Given most AmeriCorps members' passion and dedication, a recent college graduate assigned to an overcrowded Oakland middle school felt guilty about her half-hearted commitment to Teach for America. She gradually realized her situation was all too realistic and typical of teachers serving in underresourced schools across the nation. (MLH)

A detailed assessment of the average class size in Massachusetts public schools is provided in this report, which includes the means and ranges of average class size and a description of class size across grade levels, subject area, and community type. Data were collected from the Chapter 188 Individual School Report (1987-88), an annual survey of…

This report, intended for local and state policy makers and practitioners, summarizes the findings and implications of class-size reduction (CSR) in California. The report's findings provide a comprehensive picture of California's CSR initiative during its first 2 years, covering such topics as implementation, resources, teacher qualifications,…

Research findings are reported of a study (N=88 undergraduate males) of molar crowding in urban centers which involved the simultaneous variation of social density, spatial density, noise, and personality as they effect room affect (physical and psychological). Several main effects proved significant. (Author/DC)

Describes Capistrano (California) Unified School District's use of portable classrooms to solve overenrollment problems while complying with Governor Wilson's directive to reduce class size in primary grades. When evaluating the merits of relocatable classrooms, school leaders should consider acquisition and use, identification of responsible…

Several districts have taken a radical approach to middle/high school transitions, removing ninth-graders from the mix to give them the attention needed to succeed in high school. Three ninth-grade-only schools with 720 to 750 students in Virginia, Texas, and Pennsylvania are profiled. Students experience less social pressure from upper-classmen.…

The idea of converting to year-round education (YRE) comes from different sources, such as communities concerned about idle youth and taxpayer groups upset about empty buildings during the summer. The most prevalent reasons are overcrowded schools and unavailable construction funds, due to failed school bond proposals or refusal to raise taxes.…

This report examines the Chicago Public School System's need for capital improvement, and it highlights action plans for the future. The report reveals that many planned school improvements projects are unfunded and that there is about $229 million worth of projects that no longer appear in the city's capital improvements plan. Overcrowding…

Families in urban and rural settings were studied in an investigation of environmental influences on the development of Haitian-American infants. Birthweight and scores on the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment predicted mental development. Psychomotor development was related to birthweight and household crowding. (PCB)

Given the breadth and complexity of the current school improvement movement, the upgrading of physical structures may be the only specific reform area demanding a straight-forward approach. The widespread physical disrepair and overcrowding characterizing today's innercity schools provide students with no viable alternative to urban squalor and…

Classroom density may be a more important planning consideration than size. The lower middle range for human social distance is 7 feet--not met in most classrooms containing 20 to 25 students. Students need ample space, since crowding causes behavior problems and increased maintenance costs. (Contains 10 references.) (MLH)

Year-round schools operate 12 months rather than the traditional 9- or 10-month schedule. On a multitrack year-round schedule, attendance is staggered so that some students are on vacation while others attend school the usual number of days (about 180). Year-round schools can usually accommodate more students and offer an alternative to…

Year-round schooling is a positive alternative for the Woodburn School District, a district experiencing an overcrowding problem. The year-round education system has not yet been implemented in Woodburn, but the proposal is getting serious attention by administrators, teachers, and parents. The Utah Foundation Research Report identifies 10…