Answer: Before moving your child to a private school, do check out that there is a significant difference in the size of the class he will be in between the public and private schools. Lower class size is not always the old adage that less is more. For example, research tends to show that reducing class size from 35 to 25 doesn't show significant gains in student achievement. You do need to be aware that there is no single magical number below which class size suddenly produces a beneficial effect. However, it is fairly clear that class size must get somewhere below 20 in order to make a real difference.

In recent years, several states have reduced class size, especially in the primary grades. It has been shown that if young children in kindergarten through third grade can be in classes ranging in size from 15 to no more than 20, there is definitely more growth in their reading levels compared to students in the same grades who have 25 or more in their classes. Additional studies also found that this holds true up through eighth grade when class sizes are smaller.

Keep in mind that reducing class size changes the classroom environment. The classroom atmosphere is usually friendlier. Students have more opportunity to speak in class. There are fewer students to distract each other. The noise level in the classroom is lower. Plus, each student is able to receive a larger portion of the teacher's instructional time.

Teachers like teaching smaller classes. They enjoy an increased flexibility in using different instructional approaches and assignments. And they can devote a larger amount of time to working with each of their student's parents.

Question: How can I tell if my child is really reading on grade level? Everything seems to be going along all right for him in third grade. — Curious

Answer: First of all, your child's report card should indicate if he is reading on grade level. And it will also tell you how well he is reading on grade level. A visit to your child's classroom during reading time will give you an added picture of how well he is doing compared to his classmates. Plus, a chat with his teacher should make it clear to you how well he is reading.

You can do an informal reading test by having him read a passage of a current assignment in his reader. If he doesn't make more than five errors per 100 words, you can be fairly confident that he's reading on grade level. You can also find out if his reading skills are developing appropriately by visiting the Reading Rockets Web site (www.readingrockets.org/article/162). And here is one more important determiner of his reading skills — if he truly enjoys reading and frequently has his nose in a book, things are probably fine.

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