Newport - Article III Class Size

ARTICLE III CLASS SIZE

Newport School District

Purpose

The parties have agreed to limit class size and the ratio of professional staff to students necessary for effective education. In agreeing upon these standards, the parties recognize that students have differing physical, mental, social, developmental, and/or emotional needs that require a continuum of educational programs and services. They agree that, because of the vast diversity in the student population, the creation of an appropriate educational environment as required by law, or by the needs of a student, places extraordinary demands on the general classroom teacher.

A. Except as noted below, class size shall be twenty-five (25) students.

1. The composition and size for Special Education classes shall be in accordance with state law. The administration will make a reasonable effort to evenly distribute students designated as ELL (English Language Learners) and students with IEP's.

During the first 10 days of the school year, the School Committee shall not be required to meet these class sizes. After the tenth school day the class size shall

not exceed the maximum class size. Class sizes for itinerant teachers shall not exceed twenty-five (25) students per class.

2. Class Size Elementary School:

Kindergarten classes shall have a maximum of sixteen (16) students per class without a teacher assistant to a maximum twenty-three (23) students per class with a teacher assistant assigned full time.

Grades 1 through 5 shall have a maximum of twenty-four (24) students per
class.

3. Class Size Middle School:

Grades 6, 7 and 8 shall have a maximum of twenty-five (25) students per class. Exploratory teachers' class size shall be no more than twenty-five (25) students.

Clusters

In accordance with generally accepted middle school practices, teaming shall occur at the middle school for grades 6 through 8. The Superintendent shall use his/her reasonable discretion in the organization of the teams. No class size shall exceed 25 students. Teams shall not exceed a total of 125 students or be unreasonably comprised. A standing committee shall be established to discuss teaming concepts and team organization. This committee shall be comprised of the superintendent, two (2) administrators, two (2) middle school teacher volunteers and the TAN president or his/her designee.

4. High School Class Size:

There shall be a maximum of twenty-five (25) students per class.

All foundation level and advanced placement classes shall be at a class size which reflects accommodations to provide optimum learning opportunities.

All information regarding enrollment and class assignments shall be provided to the Association upon availability and shall be updated as changes occur in order to avoid class size problems.

Classes utilizing specialized equipment such as, but not limited to, shop machinery, sewing machines, musical instruments, art supplies, computers, etc. shall not exceed the number of students who can utilize said equipment in an efficient and safe manner. This provision shall not be construed to require in all cases an individual piece of equipment for each student to be used simultaneously, but only to preclude classes with a disproportionate number of students for proper or safe utilization of equipment.

B. The standards set forth in Section A above are subject to modification for educational purposes such as avoidance of split-grade classes or half-classes or specialized or experimental instructions (e.g., team teaching or large group instruction). In physical education classes sharing a common period and more than one (1) physical education teacher, the total number of students shall not exceed twenty-five (25) students per teacher.

C. Compliance:

The Committee and the Association will meet within ten days of the start of the school year and then monthly throughout the school year to monitor class size compliance and address concerns of students, parents, and teachers.

The Committee shall make a good faith effort to comply with the class size limitations set forth in this Article

For elementary school: If on the eleventh school day, additional students per grade level exceed the following formula set forth below, the Committee shall add an additional class:

1 student per section plus 2

Any additional students shall be distributed equally over all sections subject to the seniority provision set forth below

For middle school and high school: No teacher shall be required to teach more than 125 students subject to any limitations otherwise set forth in the contract. If on the eleventh day, additional students per section exceed the following formula set forth below, the Committee shall add an additional class:

For a single section class: If there are more than 28 students, the Committee shall reduce the class size.

For multiple section classes: The number of sections of the same class and level plus 2 requires a reduction in the class size.

If the Committee violates class size limits contained herein, it shall:

1. Within three school days meet with the Association to discuss remedies to the overage.

2. If the overage is not addressed after consultation with the Association, so long as the overage(s) exists, and retroactive to the first day the overage was first identified, the affected teacher(s) will be paid as follows:

Elementary School:

(a) $15/day for the first student over the class size limit
(b) $15/day for the second student over the class size limit
(c) $15/day for the third student over the class size limit
(d) $50/day for the fourth student over the class size limit.
(e) Said students shall be offered to teachers based on seniority unless the teacher has been evaluated as ineffective or developing. Whenever a class size overage exists at the elementary school within 40 hours all parents within the affected classroom shall be notified by the building principal or designee.

High School and Middle School and Itinerants

(a) $6/ day for the first student over the class size limit
(b) $6/day for the second student over the class size limit
(c) $100/day for the third student over the class size limit
Said students shall be offered to teachers based on seniority unless the teacher has been evaluated as ineffective or developing, provided further that the change can be accommodated by the student's schedule.

High School Advanced placement classes:

(a) $6/ day for the first student over the class size limit
(b) $6/day for the second student over the class size limit
(c) $6/day for the third student over the class size limit
(d) $100/day for the fourth student over the class size limit

In no event can the class limits exceed the number of students for which compensation is provided, as outlined above.