640 Procedure: Class Size and Student-Teacher Staffing Ratio

I.    In establishing reasonable class enrollments, the Superintendent or designee(s) working with Principals:

A.    Will examine alternatives for student assignments that will provide for the placement of students within classes of reasonable size.

B.    Will seek to establish reasonable class sizes, with priority attention given to primary grades first; followed by grades four through six, seven through nine, and ten through twelve.

C.    Directs Special Education and other categorical programs to be organized in accordance with regulations for the program.

D.    Directs the placement of Special Education students in regular classrooms:

1.    consistent with state regulations governing such placement;

2.    consistent with the needs of the students being placed;

3.    giving consideration to the composition of the classroom in which the child is being placed; and

4.    with a clear level of support and understanding for the classroom teacher and the instructional modification that must be implemented.

E.    Directs that necessary modification of curriculum and instructional procedures be a shared responsibility of classroom teacher(s) and the Special Education teacher.

II.    The teacher staffing ratio includes all regular classroom teachers only.  The ratio excludes all instructional technology specialists, counselors, social workers, psychologists, special education teachers, special education building coordinators, Title I teachers, Assurance of Mastery teachers, Learning Development Revenue teachers, elementary physical education teachers, elementary music teachers, elementary and secondary talented and gifted teachers, instructional assistants, any teacher position funded by at-risk funds, and any other position funded by federal, state and/or local grants or categorical funding.

III.    Class size and composition K-12 will be reviewed by October 15th each year and reported to the Superintendent of Schools.

IV.    Paraprofessional assistance may be provided in elementary classrooms when the pupil-teacher ratio exceeds thirty-two students. If provided, the maximum paraprofessional assistance will be at a rate of one hour per day for that classroom for each student above a total of thirty-two students.

Created/Revised
Created:  5/15/01 (formerly Procedure 6212)
Revised:  2/17/98
Revised:  5/3/94
Revised:  4/3/90
Created:  10/15/85