Anonymous wrote:as are ESOL kids

Not true.

Anonymous wrote:I don't know for sure, but I think I read that some special ed students are counted as 1/2 because they spend time outside the classroom.

First, you need to understand that schools are staffed by the number of students in 1-6. Within particular grade levels there may be a cap mandated by the state based on the school's poverty level. But overall, the school is given a number of teachers based on the TOTAL number of kids in 1-6. The principal then has to decide where to spread them out.

In FCPS, students with disabilities are categorized by 2 levels: Level 1 and Level 2. Level 1 students are those with what is called Category A services such as learning disabilities. They are considered in the count because they can be included in the general education classroom for the most part. A student with a learning disability can start the day, do specials and probably get a lot of hours inside the gen Ed classroom.

Level 2 students, however, are NOT considered in the overall general education grades 1-6 count. They are the students that have disabilities such as autism, intellectually disabled AND they have more than 15 hours on their IEP. So for staffing purposes, while their bodies are at school, they are not in the count. They may actually spend time in the general education classroom and specials, but again, they do not count in the overall student count in grades 1-6.

If there are 400 total students in grades 1-6, but of those 12 of them are Level 2 students, then for staffing purposes, the county says that the school has 388 students. They will staff that school with general education teachers based on 388 kids. It doesn't matter what grade levels those Level2 kids are at. And it doesn't matter if there are more kids at one grade level or another.

as are ESOL kids

I don't know for sure, but I think I read that some special ed students are counted as 1/2 because they spend time outside the classroom.

Anonymous wrote:There is no class in my child's school lower than 26 children per teacher so is this school not following the law? I want to know how it's actually calculated at each school and with each particular type of child. I'm tired of hearing fuzzy math.

The State Law for average class sizes does not apply to individual schools in a school system. It is the average throughout the school system. Email your School Board member and they will be able to tell you the "spin".

Anonymous wrote:§ 22.1-253.13:2. Standard 2. Instructional, administrative, and support personnel.

A. The Board shall establish requirements for the licensing of teachers, principals, superintendents, and other professional personnel.

B. School boards shall employ licensed instructional personnel qualified in the relevant subject areas.

C. Each school board shall assign licensed instructional personnel in a manner that produces divisionwide ratios of students in average daily membership to full-time equivalent teaching positions, excluding special education teachers, principals, assistant principals, counselors, and librarians, that are not greater than the following ratios: (i) 24 to one in kindergarten with no class being larger than 29 students; if the average daily membership in any kindergarten class exceeds 24 pupils, a full-time teacher's aide shall be assigned to the class; (ii) 24 to one in grades one, two, and three with no class being larger than 30 students; (iii) 25 to one in grades four through six with no class being larger than 35 students; and (iv) 24 to one in English classes in grades six through 12.

how does it make sense to have a ratio requirement of x:1, and then the class "not to be larger than x + more?"

Wow. 35 kids in a class. That's a handful for the best teacher.

Anonymous wrote:There is no class in my child's school lower than 26 children per teacher so is this school not following the law? I want to know how it's actually calculated at each school and with each particular type of child. I'm tired of hearing fuzzy math.

Given that the above only explicitly says to exclude "special education teachers, principals, assistant principals, counselors, and librarians" in the ratio count, my guess is that there are a lot of other positions that DO count for the ratio outside the regular classroom teacher (ie. speech, OT, resource, specials, aides, etc) so that most schools likely don't have a problem meeting the overall ratios, and must only must focus on those maximum class size numbers.

There is no class in my child's school lower than 26 children per teacher so is this school not following the law? I want to know how it's actually calculated at each school and with each particular type of child. I'm tired of hearing fuzzy math.

§ 22.1-253.13:2. Standard 2. Instructional, administrative, and support personnel.

A. The Board shall establish requirements for the licensing of teachers, principals, superintendents, and other professional personnel.

B. School boards shall employ licensed instructional personnel qualified in the relevant subject areas.

C. Each school board shall assign licensed instructional personnel in a manner that produces divisionwide ratios of students in average daily membership to full-time equivalent teaching positions, excluding special education teachers, principals, assistant principals, counselors, and librarians, that are not greater than the following ratios: (i) 24 to one in kindergarten with no class being larger than 29 students; if the average daily membership in any kindergarten class exceeds 24 pupils, a full-time teacher's aide shall be assigned to the class; (ii) 24 to one in grades one, two, and three with no class being larger than 30 students; (iii) 25 to one in grades four through six with no class being larger than 35 students; and (iv) 24 to one in English classes in grades six through 12.

My child had 32 in 4th. The principal referenced it but I can't remember exactly. It's a Virginia regulation/law. I want to say 35.

this link will work..

http://fcps.uservoice.com/forums/217796-making-fairfax-county-public-schools-the-very-best/suggestions/4282397-smaller-class-size-teacher-parent-

http://fcps.uservoice.com/forums/217796-making-fai...ler-class-size-teacher-parent-

Sign petition to help send the message to FCPS- class sizes are out of control ..

Anonymous wrote:what is it?

just found out that my DS's class has 33 kids...5th grade

My now 11th grader had 33 in his 5th grade class. It was not a very good year.

what is it?

just found out that my DS's class has 33 kids...5th grade