ARTICLE 7 CLASS SIZE

South Kingstown School District

A. Elementary (K-5)

1, Elementary school buildings shall have a maximum teacher-pupil ratio of 1:25 per building. Only general education classroom teachers shall be included in the computations of the teacher-pupil ratio. Librarians, nurses, counselors, special education personnel, special area teachers, resource teachers, Reading /Literacy teachers, or equivalent positions shall be excluded from the computations of the teacher-pupil ratio.

The School Committee and the Association acknowledge the efficacy of lower class size for effective instruction. In an effort to recognize the importance of lower class sizes at the Elementary level as well as the need for flexibility, the following class size parameters have been established:

The class size limits are as follows:

Grades K-3 - 23 students
Grades 4-5  - 25 students

Prior to August 15th, if the class size in grades 1-5 exceeds the contractual limits another class will be added.

Prior to the first day of school, if the class size in Kindergarten exceeds the contractual limits another class will be added.

If the class size exceeds the contractual limits for grades 1-5 after August 15th and Kindergarten after the first day of school, the following will occur:

In recognition that occasional unpredicted enrollment may necessitate exceeding the class size limit, an individual class cannot exceed the class size limits by more than 2 students. For an overage that includes a second student, compensation will be given at the rate of $10 per student, per day. Art, Music, Physical Education and Library classes will be compensated at the rate of $2 per class, per day.  For every day the class size exceeds the contractual limit by 2 students payment will accrue and be received at the conclusion of the school year. Determination of placement will be made between the building principal and the grade level team.

2. In the event that split classes occur, no split grade class shall exceed 25 pupils. The School Committee will make every reasonable effort to eliminate split grade classes at the elementary level. To the extent that such split grade  classes continue to exist at the elementary level, teachers of split grade classes at the elementary level will receive professional teaching resources, using a ratio of .5 FTE in professional teaching resources for each split grade class. No split grade class shall exceed the following:

Grades K-3                 24 students
Grades 4-5                  25 students

3. Students receiving intensive special education supports shall be counted for purposes of the above class size limits unless:

(a) the student spends one hour or less on any one day in the class; and

(b) there are not more than ten (10) such student contact hours in the class in any one week.

4. Each kindergarten class assigned more than twenty (20) pupils shall be assigned a full-time kindergarten aide. The aide's schedule shall be determined by the principal after consultation with the teacher.

B Middle School (6-8)

The School Committee and the Association acknowledge the efficacy of lower class size for effective instruction. In an effort to recognize the importance of lower class sizes at the Middle School as well as the need for flexibility, the following class size parameters have been established:

1. Numbers of teachers/students on teams. To the extent that the School Committee organizes students at the Middle School level onto teams, the teams will consist of 4 teachers. The maximum numbers of students on a team will be as follows:

4-member teams          104 students (class size of 26)

Split-grade teams at the Middle School shall not be instituted during the term of this Agreement, unless, during the preceding school year the district provides at least one full day of professional development to those teachers who may be affected by the institution of split grade teams and provide such teachers with site visits to those districts which have instituted split grade teams.

2. In recognition that occasional unpredicted enrollment may necessitate exceeding the class size limit, an individual class cannot exceed the class size limits by more than 2 students. For an overage that includes a second student, compensation will be given at the rate of $2 per student, per day. For every day the class size exceeds the contractual limit by 2 students payment will accrue and be received at the conclusion of the school year. Determination of the placement will be made between the principal and the grade level team.

3. No individual class shall exceed 27 pupils.

4. The School Committee and the Association recognize that federal and state anti- discrimination laws, particularly the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, prohibit the School Committee from entering into any agreement which restricts in any way the rights of disabled children to receive their education in the least restrictive environment. Within the limitations imposed by IDEA, Section 504 and/or any other applicable federal and/or state laws, the School Department agrees to distribute students with IEPs and/or Section 504 plans on an equitable basis. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such equitable distribution shall not be required for math classes.

During each year of this Agreement, teachers of 5th, 6th and 7th grade students will be provided with an opportunity to provide input to the Administration with respect to the following year's placements for students in their classes.

5. The foregoing standards are subject to modifications for music (including band, orchestra and chorus) and physical education classes.

6. An Advisory committee consisting of teachers and administrators shall serve as an ongoing review body regarding the facilitation of Advisory.

C. High School (9-12) Refer to Appendix G

1. Full-time High School teachers shall be assigned a maximum of 135 pupils per day. Part-time teachers shall have a prorated maximum daily load.

2. No individual class shall exceed 27 pupils.

3. The  goal  at the high  school  is to schedule  heterogeneous groupings  of students and differentiated instruction with the exception of honors  classes  where there  is general  criteria of expectations. The  academic  and  behavioral needs  of students will  be  considered as part of  the  scheduling process   to  ensure  heterogeneous grouping.

Upon  completion of initial class Size surveys  rendered  to building  administration, any issues  of unbalanced core  classrooms, excluding collaborative classes,  with significant academic/behavioral needs shall be rectified  immediately.

4.. The foregoing standards are subject to modifications for band, chorus, jazz band, and symphony orchestra.

5. The foregoing standards are subject to modifications for CAD, carpentry, auto, videography, and family and consumer science classes based on the number of functioning workstations available.

D. Special Education

The composition and size of special education case managements (which includes occupational therapists, physical therapists, social workers, psychologists, speech language pathologists and special educators) shall be in accordance with state laws and in consultation with the Director of Pupil Personnel Services. The  school  department, in their  planning of class  sizes  for  intensive  needs  special  education programs, will  make every effort to include  the needs and intensity  of the students.

E. Specialists

1. A speech language pathologist or special education teacher who believes his/her case load will not permit fulfillment of the IEPs of his/her assigned pupils may file a written complaint to the PPS Director. The PPS Director shall conduct a hearing and respond in writing within fifteen (15) working days of the receipt of the complaint. If the teacher is not satisfied with the disposition of the complaint, he/she shall, within ten (10) working days, file the written complaint to the School Committee. The Committee shall schedule a hearing at the next regularly scheduled meeting following receipt of the complaint, so long as the complaint is received at least one week in advance of the regularly scheduled meeting. The Committee shall render a written decision within ten (10) working days. The decision of the Committee shall be final and binding.