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October 28, 2009 |
Contact: John Barnes |
Dow Constantine is Lying about Class Sizes
Seattle – In a new T.V. advertisement King County Executive candidate Dow Constantine attacks Washington Policy Center (WPC), claiming WPC’s Policy Guide for Washington State recommends increased class sizes.
Like other claims Constantine makes in the ad, this is false. On page 137, the Policy Guide says:
“Recommendation: Remove restrictive class size requirements and other legal restrictions to allow more flexibility and innovation in spending education dollars. Reducing class sizes has not resulted in improvements in student learning, as education advocates promised. Instead, policymakers should remove legal restrictions which micro-manage schools, and let local principals implement the kind of learning program that works best for their students.”
Washington Policy Center does not recommend increasing class sizes. The Policy Guide presents data showing teacher quality, not class size, is the primary driver of learning excellence for students: “Research consistently shows that placing an effective teacher in the classroom is more important than any other factor, including class size, in raising student academic achievement” (page 138).
Constantine has refused to return phone calls from WPC President Dann Mead Smith. He has also refused to respond to a public correction issued on October 13th, to a formal letter sent to him on October 26th, or to a statement released on October 27th.
Washington Policy Center is the state’s premier independent think tank. As a non-profit, non-partisan research and education organization it does not endorse or oppose candidates running for public office.
Dow Constantine is lying about Washington Policy Center in his political campaign to win a hotly-contested race for King County Executive.
“We don’t get involved in election politics,” said WPC president Dann Mead Smith, “but we can’t remain silent while a major public figure tells lies about our research work.”
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