ARTICLE 21 - CLASS PREPARATIONS AND CLASS SIZE

West Warwick School District

Section 1. When practical, preparations for academic classes at the secondary level will be limited to two (2) a day.

Section 2. Class Size Limits:

(a) For the purposes of this Article, all class size maximum figures identified henceforth shall be the maximum figure which the administration may have enrolled into any class at any one (1) time.

(b) Prior to any grievance by the Alliance, or individual bargaining unit members, concerning class size violations, there shall be applied a grace period of five (5) school days starting on the first day of school for students to allow for the scheduling of unforeseen enrollments, however, said grace period shall not apply in any instance where there exists more than three (3) students above the class size pursuant to this Section.

(c) It is agreed by the parties that, under no circumstances, unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, will teachers be assigned to teach/supervise more than the number of students per class as indicated as follows:

(d) A teacher’s total/overall roster may exceed the established class size limits when students enter or exit classrooms during portions of the school day; however, class size shall not exceed the established class size limits during any given instructional block.

(e) In cases where the addition of new students might exceed the maximum class size limit(s) pursuant to Section 2(c) directly hereinabove, class size may increase beyond said limit(s) but may not exceed said limit(s) by more than one (1) student in any academic classroom in that grade level or subject level. Such assignments shall be as follows:

i. The Superintendent shall consult the Alliance President concerning all such additional placements.

ii. The placement of all such additional students shall be made on an equitable basis.

iii. Initial assignment of such additional students shall be made on a seniority, right of first refusal basis, unless such is not reasonably achieved when precluded by legally binding IEP or 504 accommodations.

iv. Daily compensation for each such additional student will be equal to the amount of compensation set forth under Article 34-1 of this Agreement and shall be divided equally, on a prorated basis, among all teachers scheduled to teach/supervise such additional student on any particular day. Said compensation shall not be paid for days during the grace period pursuant to Section 2(b).

(f) Beyond the equitable assignment of one (1) such additional student to each of the teachers in that grade level or subject level, either a new full-time or part-time position will be created immediately and a number equal to all those additional students previously assigned in excess of the class size limit(s) will then be reassigned to the teacher appointed to the newly created position.

(g) Special Education, Special Populations and other Specialized Educational Programs:

The phrase “professional support” repeated in the following footnotes of this Section shall mean a Teacher’s Assistant, Job Coach, Social Worker, Registered Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse and/or other certified service providers. Such professional support shall be determined in accordance with the disability levels and needs of the students.

(*1) The class size for all Special Education Self Contained PK-12 Severe & Profound classes shall be six (6) students with at least one (1) full time professional support or eight (8) students when additional professional support is provided.

(*2) The class size for all K-12 Special Education Self Contained classes, other than Severe & Profound classes, shall be ten (10) students when one (1) full time additional professional support is provided or twelve (12) students when further additional professional support is provided.

(*3) The class size for Special Education Life Skills Apartment Program classes shall be eight (8) students with one (1) full time professional support or ten (10) students when additional professional support is provided. Students involved in small group job placements and community based activities will also require such additional professional support.

(*4) The workloads of all resource/direct service teachers shall be assigned on a fair and equitable basis.

(*5) ELL Class Composition

a. ELL classes in grades K-8 shall not exceed three (3) contiguous grade levels and/or three (3) contiguous language levels unless the resulting class size for that instructional period would be less than four (4) students.

b. ELL classes in grades 9-12 shall not exceed three (3) contiguous grade levels unless the resulting class size for that instructional period would be less than four (4) students.

(*6) All band and chorus extracurricular activities or classes that occur outside of the regular school day shall have class size limits based on student demand and facility limitations.

(*7) The class size for all Advisory classes at WWHS shall be fifteen (15) students with one advisor and twenty-five (25) students when two advisors are assigned.

(h) Students Mainstreamed Into Regular Instructional Classes:

i. In no instance shall the number of students, to include ELL students, mainstreamed into regular instructional classes exceed half (1/2) the total of the registered population of that class.

ii. It is agreed that the administration will maintain a fair and equitable distribution of students, to include ELL students, mainstreamed into regular classes. The method of achieving such fair and equitable distribution shall be implemented along the lines of established special service(s) unless such classes are structured as special population or English Language Learner inclusion settings with appropriate collaborative/inclusion partnership staffing.

(i) The Alliance shall receive by October 15th a complete listing of all classes and the class size of each.