Atlanta approves higher class sizes. Here's why that's a bad idea.

In a special meeting tonight, the Atlanta Board of Education reversed an earlier vote this week rejecting an administration request to apply for a waiver of state rules on the maximum number of students in a class.

AUGUST 4, 2014 ATLANTA Students walk to classes as they start back to school at Bethune Elementary School in Atlanta on the first day of classes, Monday August 4, 2014. APS Superintendent Meria Carstarphen greeted students, parents, faculty and staff during the morning. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Credit: Maureen Downey

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Credit: Maureen Downey

In an about-face, the board approved the plus-5 waiver sought by APS leadership, meaning class sizes in Atlanta schools could rise 5 students beyond the state maximum. APS school chief Meria Carstarphen said the plus-5 waiver does not mean class sizes will jump; the waiver provides schools with needed flexibility, she said.

In anticipation of the vote, Jarod Apperson sent this note of caution to Dr. Carstarphen about allowing class sizes to rise.

A forensic auditor now working on a doctorate in economics at Georgia State, Apperson has made APS a focus and blogs about the district at Grading Atlanta.

With his permission, here is Apperson's letter to Carstarphen. His information on class size has application to every metro system: