How do you handle the class sizes??

[Anonymous]

Our neighborhood school is Wood Acres. I just spoke with the Principal regarding current numbers for K and also projected numbers for next year. She said that there are 25 or 26 children in every K section, and there are 5 sections. She also said that those numbers are more or less accurate for all grades in the school. That feels very crowded to me. Does anyone have kids at Wood Acres who can comment directly, or have experiences from similarly crowded schools? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I would love to hear replies to this post as well. I had the same discussion with the principal and my take was that she'd be pleased if the K classes are "only" 25 each next fall. IMO, 25 plus kids in any elementary class, but especially a K class, is very large! The only relatively positive spin I've heard a Woodacres parent put on the class size is that with such a large class, there is "someone for everyone," meaning that no matter your child's personality, she/he will find a friend. (What I also don't understand is why the class sizes, particularly the K classes, at Woodacres are larger than most of the other Bethesda elem schools like Westbrook, Somerset, Bannockburn, Burning Tree, and Carderock, Bradley Hills and even Bethesda ES, which gets discussed as one of the most overcrowded schools.)

[Anonymous]

Looks like Rosemary Hills is at 25 for K! Whew! That is a lot of kids.

[Anonymous]

I have a friend with a child in K at Somerset and there are only 21 kids a class and 4 sections. It does make me wonder why Wood Acres has gotten so out of control.

[Anonymous]

Wake up and vote out every single person on the County Council as well as the County Exec.

It doesn't matter what party they are just get rid of them all. They spent more time on the transgender bill than educaiton, hmm interesting huh? All because a staff member on Flooreen's staff got upset one day.

Education is not a top priority for them. They would rather invest in Casa de MD, welfare programs or the Filmore than fully fund the school budget. Invest in the kids, educate them, eliminate their dependency on welfare when they are older and you come out way ahead.

[Anonymous]

I thought there were limits of 22 kids per class in K in MoCo? Are those numbers not hard and fast? The stories I've heard about class sizes at Wood Acres really have me worried.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought there were limits of 22 kids per class in K in MoCo? Are those numbers not hard and fast? The stories I've heard about class sizes at Wood Acres really have me worried.

Given the budget issues, MCPS is proposing to increase class sizes.

[Anonymous]

Not sure if this is correct, but the director of my son's preschool just told me that the county has now upped the class size to a max of 1 teacher to 27 kids max.

[Anonymous]

My understanding is that there can be up to 28 students and 1 teacher, but after that they have to provide 2 teachers. But the Wood Acres class sizes are correct, 25-26 kids and 1 teacher. Sad.

[Anonymous]

I believe it is 25 for K-2 and then goes up to 30 for 3-5. Of course if new students come in during the year after the official count is made they are not obligated to add a teacher. They are also not obligated to add a teacher unless all classes at the grade level are over the limit..so you could have a 25, and 2 26s and that would be ok. At my childrens school (College Gardens) there are 8 classrooms over the limit this year.

[Anonymous]

The MCPS teacher's contract only requires MCPS to "regard" and consider a guideline of a maximum ratio of 28 students to one class room teacher. But that limit does not apply to the "specials" like gym, music and art, where the classes can be any size (and I know last year that schools had special classes with over 30 students in each class by combining some of the regular classes together). For elementary schools the ratio is one special teacher per each 500 students.
See Article 17 of the contract: http://mcea.nea.org/publications/contract.php

[Anonymous]

Will the increase in class sizes apply across the board?

[Anonymous]

It only matters if you are just at the cut off.. If you have 2 classes of 18 kids..they cannot make 1 class of 36 so there is no change. If you had 2 classes of 15 kids..and the new limit is 30...you are now down to one class and that would be a BIG change.

[Anonymous]

What I would like to know is how the increase in class size plays out in terms of classroom dynamics. How can one adult manage that many children? Specifically I have heard that "good" kids end up getting worksheets thrown at them to keep them busy while the teacher is handling behavior problems in the class. I just don't see how that can be an effective learning environment for anyone.

[Anonymous]

A huge reason for the increase is the fact that people arepulling kids from private schools and realizing it is not worht the $ in this economy. Don't be fooled by wait lists and the schools creating a panic for you to apply.