Kindergarten Class Size Drama

I live in a smaller town. Ironically, I have always worried about Bella missing out socially in such a small school. It has come to my attention in the past few days that my concerns are a tad misplaced. There are two classes per grade....with the exception of the 2nd grade class, which was split into 3 classes 2 years ago in kindergarten. I come to find out that this happened because the parents came together and raised an issue with the more than 25 kids per class. This happened in OCTOBER of that school year. So the board only caved because of pressure.

Bella's class has 25 kids and the other class now has 26 (apparently one more student than the promised cap) In her class is a teacher, a full time aid, and another specialized teacher. Being that my sister is a teacher, I saw right through that and realized that there are some classified kids in her class. After some investigating, apparently there are 2 behavior and 1 educational "inclusion" kids. One apparently locks himself n the bathroom and screams.

The other school in the district has 49 kids (they thought it was going to be 53 at one point, but now it's one less than the "promised cut-off"...I was told in May that there were only 35...so the district is apparently growing and the principal and superintendent have been figuring out "what to do".

I honestly had no idea any of this was a red flag until we were called to a meeting yesterday morning and told that there WILL NOT be another class added as it was asked for. They will instead, be hiring another Fulltime aid to be split between the classes. This seems so stupid to me. It just seems illogical to add another teacher to an already overcrowded room. PLUS, the fact that we have behavioral issues in this class. How will each kid be properly attended to? Plus with only 2 overcrowded classes for the next 8 years, how will Bella escape these kids? I mean no disrepect, but I find it easier to swallow if there were 3, 4, or even 5 classes per grade. The odds of teachers placing kids continually with problematic kids is lessened. But with 2 classes, it's 50/50

The parents are fighting this. I believe they have a shot. I am going to join the fight. I hate to ruffle feathers this early in Bella's schooling. But this is the foundation to her whole life. They are planning to go to the Board and told the Principal that they would be going this route. This seems to have happened before and I am sad that this is an issue.

What would you do? Do you think it's smart to push for a reshuffling this late in the game? I mean, it's October!

Thanks for reading this whole thing.

Re: Kindergarten Class Size Drama

PS...

The school added a third class to the contingency budget passed in June. And they also received a 200,000 award for being a Blue Ribbon School...

Re: Kindergarten Class Size Drama

As long as I wasn't the only parent being vocal about it, I'd push for it, especially since it was allocated in the budget.

Another thought, is there room in your school physically for a 3rd class in each grade? One of the elementary schools in our district is at capacity so it would physically not be an option at that school, but at the other 2 elementary schools there is room. For the past 2 years or so I've been hearing a lot of muttering that the elementary schools should be re-zoned but it hasn't been an organized movement or anything as of yet.

Re: Kindergarten Class Size Drama

I've always found that the way to get things done is to speak up.

Sounds like a legit reason to fight but you need others on your side.

Good luck!

Re: Kindergarten Class Size Drama

I wouldn't worry about causing waves. If anything, the teachers would applaud your efforts.

Also I would be less concerned about an inclusion class because from what I've seen the kids actually get more individualized attention because of the aides.

Our class size has been usually under 20. This is the first year it's been more (4th grade).

Fight!

Re: Kindergarten Class Size Drama

The principal said that there was room for a third class. I think it will be a tight fit. The problem is that a lot of older people are dying or moving out and there is a major influx of young families into the area.

I just want to make sure she has a good foundation. I am not against inclusion classes. I am against an OVERSIZED inclusion class. I don't think throwing an aide makes a damn bit of difference at this age.

Re: Kindergarten Class Size Drama

Jordan had 26 kids in her Kindergarten class with one teacher and one full time aide. There were 4 kindergarten classes that year all with 25 0r 26 kids INCLUDING the inclusion class. She has a very big grade and this is the norm for us. The classes have gotten a little smaller over the past few years(some kids moved away) Now in 4th grade she has 23 kids and she happens to be in the class with the inclusion kids(4 of them) this year. They too have another teacher(special ed) and a full time aide for those kids. Those kids are pulled out for different things through out the day, so that is 4 less kids for the teacher to deal with during those times. The special ed teacher also offeres extra help to non inclusion kids that are struggling with a certain subject as well. All our inclusion kids are pretty much ADD or ADHD.

Re: Kindergarten Class Size Drama

Most schools have inclusion classes. There are rarely self-contained classes, except for extreme cases. And the aide is there to help those students. Like PP said, they usually help any student if they can.

You will not upset a teacher, or probably the principal. It's only the Board and Superintendent - and if you are a group, you'll be noticed less.

Are they hiring an aide or a TA? TA's are certified (take state tests) and many times they are certified teachers as well. We hired a TA for our 2nd grade (we went down to 2 classes - 23 and 24 in a class)


But this was a bad budget year. Tax payers were yelling loud to cut budgets.

Re: Kindergarten Class Size Drama

Re: Kindergarten Class Size Drama

Jacob is in the co-teaching class at his school. THere are 20 kids in the class. However, you do not know who has an IEP and who is a typical kidand how many IEP ( kids with classification there are)

In my school, from what I have heard through the grapevine- parents request their typical child in this class. the teachers are amazing and they get more attention... We have 2 teachers and an aide. After meeting them, I have no qualms that they are fantastic in what they do.

WIth budgets being cut, I would definately say something but understand that getting another aide in your classroom is better than nothing.

In a friends district there are 25 kids with just one teacher...

Re: Kindergarten Class Size Drama

I can understand being upset about class size. As a NYC teacher my first grade class this year has 29 (and it is an inclusion class with 2 teachers and 10 special ed students)

Honestly, I think that having a teacher and an aide and possible another teacher is a benefit to all the students in that class.

Pretty much EVERY classroom in RVC schools are inclusion and have a teacher and an aide now. This is pretty much the norm now.

ETA: 25 is a pretty average class size. Some schools are just lucky that they CAN have classes of just 18

Also, most schools require their teaching assistants be certified teachers

Message edited 9/29/2010 9:54:51 AM.

Re: Kindergarten Class Size Drama

Just to clarify, I am by no means against an inclusion class. I understand why it is done. But there is a major behavioral issue in Bella's class based on what I was able to piece together in the past few days (from Bella, teachers, and parents, as well as the principal.)

I understand that class size is growing as an overall state of education, I just don't understand how I should accept it as the status quo?

The parents were promised at several meetings that there would be no more than 50 kids...that was the cap. Now we are at 51.

The other school would handle all spillover because there was PLENTY of room. They are now at the "cap" They knew this situation was coming. It happened last year. Why is this fair?

And when is this "aide", their saving grace, coming? They planning on BEGINNING the interview process next week. I am assuming it takes a couple of weeks AT LEAST.

I was totally fine with 25 kids in the class until I realized all of the inclusion issues. I feel like it's fair to demand another class to accommodate the situation. There are only two classes in every grade except the one they split two years ago. This will be a bigger issue as she grows. 17 or 18 kids with classified kids feels more doable. At least the other kids have a shot.

PLUS, as I have said...this was all budgeted, VOTED on, and approved this year...AND they said at the PTA meeting last week, they have still NOT decided how to spend the 200,000 grant for achieving Blue Ribbon status.

Re: Kindergarten Class Size Drama

I believe the cap for kindergarten for NY state is 25 students. I'm currently a kindergarten teacher and teach a full day class with 25 students and only a para for an hour a day. There are CTT / inclusion kindergarten classes and in my district there are supposed to be two teachers (general ed and special ed) and one full time aid.