What is the limit on class size for first grade?

[Anonymous]

My daughter excitedly told us about another new student who joined her class today...this now brings the class to 31 students in first grade. I e-mailed the teacher to see if that is really the correct number. Just seems like an outrageous number of kids in a first grade classroom. The teacher is excellent, but this really seems to be pushing the limit of what even the most amazing teacher could handle. Does MoCo have a limit on class size?

or am I just over-reacting?

[Anonymous]

There is a limit (I am not sure off the top of my head), but the chance of the school getting an additional teacher at this point in the year is...zero. It's possible that for second grade next year, if all the classes are that big, another section will be added.

[Anonymous]

DD had 15 kids in her first grade class last year in Silver Spring. 31 is outrageous.

[Anonymous]

Wow, that is crazy. 31 six/seven year olds? Too many.

[Anonymous]

DD is in 1st in Arlington and has 18.

[Anonymous]

Just so you know, the people bragging about 15 (or under 20) live in areas that get money for extra teachers because of their high FARMS numbers. More typical in the county is 26-27 kids in first grade.

The only way something could possibly be done about it (and 20:42 is probably right, chances are probably zero) is if you make a big stink. Start complaining. See where it gets you. Not any worse off than where you current are.....

[Anonymous]

I thought the limit was 29 and they had to start a new class if there were more kids than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought the limit was 29 and they had to start a new class if there were more kids than that.

I think every class in the grade has to be 2 over the limit before they open a new class. So, if the limit is 29, every first grade class would have to hit 31 before they added a new class. I don't think they make changes after a certain point in the year though.

[Anonymous]

I thought the limit in MoCo is 27 for ES. What school are you talking about OP?

[Anonymous]

I thought they changed the term from limit to "guideline" and it never applies to new arrivals after the beginning of the year. Glad the class has a great teacher to deal with it though

[Anonymous]

The short answer is that there is no limit -- only an agreement that the country will try its best to follow the following (From the Teachers/BOA Collective Bargaining Agreement):

The Board will make a conscientious effort to guarantee that no self-contained elementary class will exceed the number of students per classroom proposed in the current budget. If any class exceeds these numbers, every effort will be made to provide a paraeducator for that teacher. […] In the event of a dispute over this Article, the parties will meet in a good faith effort to resolve it. In order to address this issue:
[. . .]
The classroom teacher is the key member of the professional staff, and the degree of teacher time which is available to students for instructional purposes is a major index of educational quality. In recognition of the fact that the appropriateness of a specific ratio of pupils to each classroom teacher may vary in relation to such factors as subject requirements, pupil characteristics, and school size, no prescriptive and detailed ratio is set forth herein. In staffing schools with classroom teachers, however, school administrators should regard ratios ranging from one classroom teacher for each 28 pupils to one for each 25 pupils as the arrangement which will be approximated following assignment of all professional personnel in the local school system. Emphasis added.

http://www.mceanea.org/publications/contract.php

And that "conscientious effort" does not apply to the size of the specials such as art, music or physical education.

[Anonymous]

I want a smaller class size, which is why I support the Apple Ballot that is frequently complained about on this board. The teachers' union has the most ability to affect what the BOE does. Get the union to push for smaller class sizes and it may happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want a smaller class size, which is why I support the Apple Ballot that is frequently complained about on this board. The teachers' union has the most ability to affect what the BOE does. Get the union to push for smaller class sizes and it may happen.

LOL at this.