1st grade classes are 30 kids and it's a mess

[Anonymous]

At my child's school, the first grade classes (6 and 7 year olds) are a mess! This is the grade that includes all the kids whose parents didn't want them in virtual kindergarten and weren't able to do private the virtual year, so on top of the huge class sizes, there's a broad range of ages in this class - from the kids who are still 5 with birthdays next week to those that turned 7 halfway through Kindergarten last year. Our principal refused to hire an extra teacher despite the fact that last year's class sizes were also huge (but kindergarteners had an IA to help). It's awful, it's out of control, and there is no support for the poor first grade teachers. Is there anything we can do to petition the principal to hire a new teacher for next year? 30 kids in a first grade class is TOO MANY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At my child's school, the first grade classes (6 and 7 year olds) are a mess! This is the grade that includes all the kids whose parents didn't want them in virtual kindergarten and weren't able to do private the virtual year, so on top of the huge class sizes, there's a broad range of ages in this class - from the kids who are still 5 with birthdays next week to those that turned 7 halfway through Kindergarten last year. Our principal refused to hire an extra teacher despite the fact that last year's class sizes were also huge (but kindergarteners had an IA to help). It's awful, it's out of control, and there is no support for the poor first grade teachers. Is there anything we can do to petition the principal to hire a new teacher for next year? 30 kids in a first grade class is TOO MANY.

just wait until there are 34 in 4th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At my child's school, the first grade classes (6 and 7 year olds) are a mess! This is the grade that includes all the kids whose parents didn't want them in virtual kindergarten and weren't able to do private the virtual year, so on top of the huge class sizes, there's a broad range of ages in this class - from the kids who are still 5 with birthdays next week to those that turned 7 halfway through Kindergarten last year. Our principal refused to hire an extra teacher despite the fact that last year's class sizes were also huge (but kindergarteners had an IA to help). It's awful, it's out of control, and there is no support for the poor first grade teachers. Is there anything we can do to petition the principal to hire a new teacher for next year? 30 kids in a first grade class is TOO MANY.

just wait until there are 34 in 4th.

+1 there are 33 kids in my kid’s 4th grade class this year. It is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At my child's school, the first grade classes (6 and 7 year olds) are a mess! This is the grade that includes all the kids whose parents didn't want them in virtual kindergarten and weren't able to do private the virtual year, so on top of the huge class sizes, there's a broad range of ages in this class - from the kids who are still 5 with birthdays next week to those that turned 7 halfway through Kindergarten last year. Our principal refused to hire an extra teacher despite the fact that last year's class sizes were also huge (but kindergarteners had an IA to help). It's awful, it's out of control, and there is no support for the poor first grade teachers. Is there anything we can do to petition the principal to hire a new teacher for next year? 30 kids in a first grade class is TOO MANY.

It’s under the allowed amount, so he doesn’t have to do anything.

He said he’s not going to do anything.

No, there’s no other options and prepare yourself for add ins if other kids move to the area.

I realize you’re upset but you’re being a little dramatic. “Kids who have birthdays next week?” I mean, what’s that? 1? How many could have a birthday next week? How many kids turned 8 last week. You didn’t dis the teacher so I’m assuming your beef isn’t with her (him).

[Anonymous]

The county has to approve adding another class.

[Anonymous]

Is your PTA allowed to fund aides? This is what we do in DC.

[Anonymous]

https://doe.virginia.gov/boe/quality/soq_max_class_size.pdf

30 kids is fine in 1st grade, as long as the FCPS daily membership is less than 24 per class. Most schools get around this requirement with SPED teachers and aides having kids for some portion of the day.

PTAs are not allowed to fund staff positions.

[Anonymous]

Start supplementing with outside resources (AoPS is great) or make sure you are working with your child each day.

Class sizes, especially in high-performing schools, will not change. I'm so sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At my child's school, the first grade classes (6 and 7 year olds) are a mess! This is the grade that includes all the kids whose parents didn't want them in virtual kindergarten and weren't able to do private the virtual year, so on top of the huge class sizes, there's a broad range of ages in this class - from the kids who are still 5 with birthdays next week to those that turned 7 halfway through Kindergarten last year. Our principal refused to hire an extra teacher despite the fact that last year's class sizes were also huge (but kindergarteners had an IA to help). It's awful, it's out of control, and there is no support for the poor first grade teachers. Is there anything we can do to petition the principal to hire a new teacher for next year? 30 kids in a first grade class is TOO MANY.

just wait until there are 34 in 4th.

+1 there are 33 kids in my kid’s 4th grade class this year. It is ridiculous.

And elsewhere in the county the class sizes are much smaller.

If you don’t like it vote out the School Board that pays no attention to operations next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At my child's school, the first grade classes (6 and 7 year olds) are a mess! This is the grade that includes all the kids whose parents didn't want them in virtual kindergarten and weren't able to do private the virtual year, so on top of the huge class sizes, there's a broad range of ages in this class - from the kids who are still 5 with birthdays next week to those that turned 7 halfway through Kindergarten last year. Our principal refused to hire an extra teacher despite the fact that last year's class sizes were also huge (but kindergarteners had an IA to help). It's awful, it's out of control, and there is no support for the poor first grade teachers. Is there anything we can do to petition the principal to hire a new teacher for next year? 30 kids in a first grade class is TOO MANY.

just wait until there are 34 in 4th.

+1 there are 33 kids in my kid’s 4th grade class this year. It is ridiculous.

And elsewhere in the county the class sizes are much smaller.

If you don’t like it vote out the School Board that pays no attention to operations next year.

The School Board is not supposed to do operations! Much of the mess that happened during Covid was caused by them inserting themselves into operations. That is not in the scope of their role, other than oversight.

[Anonymous]

That is insane. Why doesn’t FCPS reduce class sizes?

[Anonymous]

You can start a homeschool group and hire that teacher to be in charge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is insane. Why doesn’t FCPS reduce class sizes?

Well you would need more teachers to do that, and in case you haven't noticed there aren't a lot of people around who are willing or interested in being teachers right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://doe.virginia.gov/boe/quality/soq_max_class_size.pdf

30 kids is fine in 1st grade, as long as the FCPS daily membership is less than 24 per class. Most schools get around this requirement with SPED teachers and aides having kids for some portion of the day.

PTAs are not allowed to fund staff positions.

The school has discretionary funds to pay for another teacher but can use those funds elsewhere. Using them for a single class that’s below the limit is not a good use of those funds, which are there to help many at the school.

- former FCPS teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At my child's school, the first grade classes (6 and 7 year olds) are a mess! This is the grade that includes all the kids whose parents didn't want them in virtual kindergarten and weren't able to do private the virtual year, so on top of the huge class sizes, there's a broad range of ages in this class - from the kids who are still 5 with birthdays next week to those that turned 7 halfway through Kindergarten last year. Our principal refused to hire an extra teacher despite the fact that last year's class sizes were also huge (but kindergarteners had an IA to help). It's awful, it's out of control, and there is no support for the poor first grade teachers. Is there anything we can do to petition the principal to hire a new teacher for next year? 30 kids in a first grade class is TOO MANY.

DS's first grade class had 32 kids in it 4 years ago. This is not a new thing.