ARTICLE XI: CLASS SIZE

Smithfield School District

October 1st shall be the cutoff date for compliance with sections A, B, and F below. Additional students enrolled in classes after October 1st for the first semester classes, and March 1st for 2nd semester classes at the middle and high school levels shall not be construed in any manner, directly or indirectly, to constitute a violation of these provisions. In the elementary schools, the October 1st cutoff will not be in effect unless all grade-level classes system-wide reach the maximum class size.

A. High School

All High School teachers shall be assigned no more than 127 pupils per day. No individual class shall exceed 28 pupils. In the event that physical classroom space is not available, no class shall exceed 29 students. Rooms designed for specialized areas, such as libraries, shall not be considered as available classroom space.

1. There may be a 10% increase in the aforementioned class maximum of 31 pupils of singletons and doubletons.

2. The pupil load and class cap exclude band, chorus, choir, and supervisory.  Pupil load and class cap may also exclude activities when mutually agreed upon by administration and teacher.

3. Individual physical education/health classes at the high school will not exceed 28 students per class. Class size limits may be exceeded by 10% (31 students) in physical education/health classes. Every effort will be made to keep these classes at 28 students. Physical education/health teachers at the high school and middle school shall be assigned no more than 140 students per day. Every effort should be made to balance the number of students in each section of physical education.

4. In classes with work/laboratory stations the number of pupils assigned shall not exceed the number of work/laboratory stations.

B. Middle School

All Middle School teachers shall be assigned no more than 140 pupils per day. No individual class shall exceed 28 pupils.

1. The pupil load and class cap exclude band, chorus and Interventions.

2. Individual physical education will not exceed 28 students per class. Class size limits may be exceeded by 10% (31 students) in physical education classes. Every effort will be made to keep these classes at 28 students. Physical education/health teachers at the middle school shall be assigned no more than 140 students per day. Every effort should be made to balance the number of students in each section of physical education.

3. In classes with work/laboratory stations the number of pupils assigned shall not exceed the number of work/laboratory stations.

C. Elementary School

Elementary school buildings shall have a maximum classroom teacher student ratio of 1:24. No individual class shall exceed 25 pupils.

1. In the event that all spaces in an elementary school have been filled and the
number of students in the classroom will exceed 25 students but never more than 26 , the district will offer to all available teachers the ability to take on the extra student for compensation.

a. The volunteer teachers will be determined by appropriate grade level where there is an overage and seniority.

b. The annual compensation shall be 1/25 (one twenty-fifth) of the teacher’s salary step, paid as a stipend twice per year.

c. In the event that the overage shall end prior to the start of the second half of the school year, the teacher shall receive only the first installment of the stipend. Any fraction of the time of the overage shall result in the full stipend to be paid for that part of the year.

d. In the event that the classroom total falls below 25 due to the student being absent, the teacher’s compensation shall not be reduced.

e. At no time shall the total number of students in any elementary class exceed 26 students, without exception.

The School Committee believes that a lower class size in Kindergarten through grade 2 is conducive to the beginning of an effective educational experience. To the extent practicable, and contingent upon space and budgetary constraints, every effort will be made to reduce the class size in Kindergarten through grade 2.

D. Integrated Pre-K

The Committee and the Association recognize the importance of meeting the individual needs of every child in the Smithfield Integrated Pre-K program. Therefore, we agree that the class size will not exceed a maximum of fourteen (14) students to begin the school year, with less than 50% of students with disabilities.

We further agree that we must provide flexibility in order to gradually transition students upon recommendation of the Pre-K team. This team will meet on an ongoing basis to discuss the needs of Pre-K students and to make recommendations for movement within appropriate classrooms across the continuum. Such movement shall not cause class sizes to exceed 15 students.

E. Intensive Pre-K

No individual class shall exceed thirteen (13) students with less than 50% of students with disabilities.

F. Kindergarten classes having a total of 22 or more students shall have paraprofessional support scheduled for no less than 2.5 hours per day.