My son was in a second-third combination class as a third grader, and I was very unhappy with it. He didn't seem to learn anything new and was bored. Our school will have a fourth-fifth combination class next year, and I understand that my son could be in it. Do you know of any studies I could use to help persuade the principal not to put my son in this class?

There is a lot of good information about combination classes. In most cases, their success lies in their appropriate configuration. The participating students should be high-achieving, independent learners from both grade levels—not, for example, high-achieving fourth graders and low-achieving fifth graders.

Here are two articles that I found particularly interesting, and which I hope you find helpful. The first outlines some pros and cons for different age groups. The second article is a scholarly study of teachers' views about combination classes (PDF file).

When you talk to your school's principal, explain your dissatisfaction with your son's previous experience in a combination class. Ask how the school will guarantee that all students in the upcoming class will be able to access their grade-level material. Ask about the teacher's training in creating effective learning environments for both grades.

If you still dislike the idea for your son, request a change of class. But be aware that sometimes a school is so crowded, or the staffing is so tight, that it becomes impossible for the administration to honor such requests (or they wouldn't institute a combo in the first place). The other, more extreme option is to request an inter- or intradistrict transfer, but those are only granted on a space-available basis.