The Reduction of Pupil-Teacher Ratios in Grades 1 and 2 and the Provision of Additional Materials: A Program to Strengthen Early Childhood Education in Poverty Area Schools. Evaluation of ESEA Title I Projects in New York City, 1967-68

A project to reduce teacher-pupil ratios and to provide additional educational materials was a subsection of a Program to Strengthen Early Childhood Education in New York City Poverty Area Schools. The teacher-pupil ratio was reduced to the level of one to fifteen in the first grades and one to twenty in the second grades. Eight dollars was alloted per child for purchasing extra supplies, one dollar of which was designated for the purchase of paperback books for the personal libraries of the children. The program was implemented in 240 schools, on which the report focuses in regard to evaluation of (1) the organization for instruction and deployment of staff, children and space, (2) the content and materials of the instructional program, particularly in reading, and (3) the strengths and weaknesses of the program as seen by school staff and administrators. Test results of the study, and sample questionnaire and interview forms used are appended. (KG)