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In school, small is beautiful Photo by Jim Craven First grade teacher Linda Jorgensen helps students Jacob Edmunds, left, and Keila Cook during class at Jackson Elementary School Monday. A federal program has trimmed class sizes at Jackson and some other schools; Jorgensen said she has 18 students in her class. Federal program lets teachers work in groups with fewer kids By VICKI GUARINO A federal initiative that has added teachers and cut class sizes in some area schools this year will be funded for at least one more year. "That's good news for us and, of course, it's good news for those teachers," says Steve Wisely, Medford school superintendent. Schools that participated in the program this year have some classes as small as 16 and 17 students. One West Medford school, Jackson Elementary, has revamped its reading program as a result. At Jackson, teachers work with as few as five students in special reading sessions. "The program is quite intense," says Jackson Principal Tom Ettel. "Having those extra teachers really helps." The 425-student Jackson School received two extra teachers this year thanks to the federal program. Medford's Howard, Jefferson and Oak Grove Elementary schools each gained one teacher. The federal program was offered for the first time this school year. It was intended to improve education by reducing class size in primary grades. Educators locally and nationally note studies indicating that student academic achievement rises when youngsters are enrolled in small classes where they can get individual attention. Local school officials had been pleased with federal assistance, but worried as they filed applications last spring that when the one-year program ended this summer, schools would lose their new teachers and new classes. Recent action by Congress, however, has allayed those fears. Wisely says districts have been notified that congressional leaders have approved continuing the program next year and are increasing the funding. Nationwide, according to the National School Boards Association, districts will be able to keep 29,000 new teachers who were hired this year under the program, plus hire several thousand more teachers next year. The class-size-reduction plan, initiated by President Clinton, targets low-income communities and elementary grades kindergarten through three. Funds were awarded by a formula that gives more money to districts with larger numbers of low-income families. The Medford School District qualified for about $200,000. The Central Point district qualified for $50,000. That turned out to be enough money to hire one new teacher, at Jewett Elementary School. "That was all we qualified for based on the formula, but we could have used more," says Central Point Personnel Director Randy Gravon. At Jackson Elementary, the two new teachers have enabled Ettel to cut enrollment in several classes, making some as small as 16 students. "The younger grades are really where you have to hit students hard," Ettel says. If students aren't reading at grade level by the end of second grade, catching up becomes increasingly difficult because so much class work depends on reading ability. Jackson Elementary's new reading program is a phonics-based curriculum that focuses on the recognition and sounds of letters and letter combinations. The program requires lots of repetition and drilling, says Ettel. With small groups of students, teachers can closely hone in on students' weaknesses -- but not drill so long that young readers grow bored. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA