Does class size affect the quality of education?

Does class size affect the quality of education?
There has been disagreement and lack of evidence causing debate on the issue of class size and its affect on the quality of education. This debate focuses on what is the “ideal” class size in elementary and secondary schools (K-12) or how does class size affect the learning environment and potential of students. Controversial efforts to reduce class size through legislation have occurred at the federal level and in various states around the nation (What Research says about small classes and their efforts). Class-size reduction plans are in place in 40 states, and federal funds are available to states for these programs. Federal government programs have provided funding to states to recruit, hire, and train new teachers (Class Size). In 2002, President Bush re-authorized the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. This act contains four basic education reform principles: stronger guidelines to provide accountability for results, ...