5120.01 - CLASS SIZE

The Board is aware that class size has an impact on effective teaching. It therefore directs the District Administrator to work to establish guidelines that provide reasonable and equitable class enrollments for each teacher.

The Board shall keep student/teacher ratios within reasonable numbers as determined by research findings and the availability of sufficient resources.

ELEMENTARY:

Elementary class size will vary from grade to grade and building to building due to identified student needs, changing populations, and available space. It is the intent of the District to keep class sizes as small as the population, available space, and financial resources permit.

The District Administrator, in consultation with the building principals, will consider such factors as the following when determining class sizes for individual buildings:

1. the ages of students being assigned to the class;
2. the degree of dependence or independence of students being assigned;
3. the nature of the course or class content, as well as activities to be conducted (i.e. chorus or band may require larger class size);
4. class or course groupings for instruction (homogeneous versus heterogeneous grouping patterns);
5. the number of special needs or at-risk students to be involved;
6. the faculty and its limitations; and
7. transportation concerns or problems.

The District Administrator or designee may assign students from a building with large class enrollments to another building with smaller class enrollments.

MIDDLE / HIGH:

The Board believes that many factors must be given consideration in the establishment of class size. All efforts will be made to maintain classes at a sound educational level. However, this provision in no way should interfere with the ability of the Board to experiment with different forms of classroom configurations.

The following considerations will be used when making decisions:

1. Consideration will be given to those courses that are sequential in nature, such as Spanish I, II, III, and IV.
2. Characteristics of special classes or special needs of students, such as vocational courses, advanced mathematics or science courses, or small group music instruction.
3. Attitude assessments of the community, local traditions, and current status of public opinion.
4. Current and projected enrollment. (Class size might be low one year and projected to be higher the next year).
5. The Board recognizes that these are guidelines and special circumstances or financial considerations may require class sizes even greater than the maximum or less than the minimum. Specific classes may be approved that are less than the minimum or greater than the maximum at the discretion of the District Administrator.

School District of Jefferson