ARTICLE 11: CLASS SIZE
11.1 At all grade levels, administrators shall make adjustments and maintain reasonably balanced class enrollments consistent with student needs and capacity of facilities, with special attention given to the numbers of laboratory and work stations where specialized equipment is used by students.
11.2 The District and the Association agree that class sizes in programs partially funded by the State or Federal governments shall be regulated by the maximum enrollment stipulations contained in applicable laws and regulations.
11.3 The parties to this Agreement accept and support an annualized pupil-to-classroom teacher ratio of 30.5:1. Exceptions to this ratio shall include those elementary grades in which the Class-Size Reduction Program pursuant to SB 1777 have been implemented, in which case a pupil-to-classroom teacher ratio of 20:1 shall be maintained, and ninth grade English classes in which the Class Size Reduction Program pursuant to SB 666 have been implemented, in which case an annualized pupil-to-classroom teacher average of 20:1 shall be maintained.
11.4 English Language Development
11.4.1 It is understood that ELD programs at elementary and middle schools may vary in size and configuration according to student needs, and that each site administration and staff will jointly develop a plan to staff those needs.
11.4.2 The parties agree that normal practice at the high school level will provide ELD class sizes of approximately twenty (20) students per class with an aide and that a normal full-time ELD teaching assignment is five instructional periods. The parties recognize the fact that this target will vary according to student needs and scheduling conflicts.
11.5 The District and the Association agree that remedial classes and classes in reading, composition, mathematics, social science, science and foreign language should have preferential priority for reduced class size.
11.6 It is agreed and understood that each school year:
a. A joint committee consisting of the site administrator(s) and representatives of the Association shall meet during the second week of each semester to review class sizes, full-time equivalents FTE allocation, teacher loads, and number of preparations. Problems concerning these issues which cannot be resolved at the site shall be referred to the Superintendent or designee and the Association.
b. The District will provide the Association with copies of the October, February, and May calculations relative to annualized pupil-to-classroom teacher ratio and supporting documentation not later than when such reports are distributed to the Board of Education.
c. Upon request by the Association, the District shall provide the Association with the total number of FTE’s allocated by the District for each school site at the conclusion of the second week of each semester.
11.7 The District and unit members shall comply with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations in implementing the Special Education Program.
11.8 It is recognized that the composition of the class enrollment in Special Day Classes (SDC) has an effect on the educational program. SDC teachers may seek review of the appropriateness of the composition of their classes by submitting a written request to the Director of Special Education or designee. The request shall include a specific statement of the teacher’s concern and supporting documentation of attempts to deal with problems created by the composition of the class. Upon receipt of a request for review, the Director of Special Education or designee shall investigate factors relating to the teacher’s request. As part of the investigation, advice may be sought from a committee composed of special education teachers and support staff. Within ten (10) working days of the request (fifteen (15) working days during the first three weeks of school), the Director of Special Education or designee shall meet and shall provide the teacher with written findings and recommendations which may include class changes, if appropriate.
11.9 The Director of Special Education and Psychological Services and the speech and language specialists shall work cooperatively to maintain an average case load of 55 students per full-time speech and language specialist except that the average case load for a full-time speech and language specialist assigned to work only with preschool age children shall be 40 students. The parties understand that the actual case load per speech and language specialist will vary from this average depending upon the number of contacts per student per week. Problems concerning these issues which cannot be resolved by these parties shall be referred to the Superintendent or designee and the Association whereby a meeting will be held to explore options and examine case load distributions.
