To improve pre-kindergarten education, Texas schools should keep class sizes small and student-teacher ratios low, according to a newly released state report. The study, conducted by the Texas Education Agency and the Department of Family and Protective Services, recommended a limit of 22 children and a student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1 for pre-kindergarten classes. The report was mandated by a 2015 law championed by Gov. Greg Abbott that created a $118 million pre-kindergarten grant program. The findings are based on a review of national research as well as observations in classrooms across the state. During the 2015 legislative session, many pre-k advocates pushed to require class size limits in Abbott’s initiative, which was aimed at spurring high quality early childhood education. Lawmakers declined, saying such limits would put too big a burden on school districts. State law currently requires a 22 to 1 student-teacher ratio in kindergarten through fourth grade, though districts

Source: Texas Public Radio