The RSD answers questions about class sizes
12/28/2009 12:00:00 AM
Schools are amply staffed and class sizes are within targets at the overwhelming majority of schools.
A recent article in The Times-Picayune may have given the impression that large class sizes are widespread problem in the District. In reality, the District’s student-teacher ratios are within target goals at the overwhelming majority of schools. Exceptions can occur as students continue to return to New Orleans in need of immediate placement. The District is monitoring class sizes continually to determine if additional sections and teachers are needed. Since the beginning of the school year, in fact, the RSD has created more than 30 additional sections, including an 8th grade academy with eight sections at Douglass High.
In an effort to further clarify the issue, the RSD offers the following questions and answers about class sizes and staffing.
Q: What were class sizes capped at in previous years (07-08 and 08-09)?
A: The RSD class size rations for both this school and last school year taffed are:
Pre-K: 20-1
K-5: 25-1
6-8: 28-1
9-12: 33-1
New students are returning to New Orleans every day. It is the District’s duty to place returning students in school and turn no child away. Class sizes can grow beyond the goal ratios as new students return, but the District is constantly monitor enrollment and staffing to determine where additional staffing or additional sections are needed.
The RSD has made it a priority to place additional support personnel in schools, in the form of paraprofessionals and university interns.
The District staffed this year with more than 800 teachers (including 58 instructional coaches, master and mentor teachers), 169 paraprofessionals and 170 university interns, serving 12,200 students in 34 schools.
The District hired 170 university interns at the start of the school year for the first semester, and our goal is to raise our total number to 300 for second semester. This, in addition to the 169 paraprofessionals, gives schools a tremendous level of classroom support. General education and special education paraprofessionals are in all RSD schools, and they, along with the university interns provide additional classroom support. Superintendent Paul Vallas’ goal is to have one teacher’s assistant (paraprofessional or university intern) for every classroom teacher.
RSD schools are amply staffed. Principals have full latitude over how they utilize their teaching staff. They can make adjustments during the year as necessary.
Q: What is the average class size now?
A: The majority of classes are at target student-teacher ratios. Some exceptions are in New Orleans East, where space is tightest, and in 4th and 8th grades, which are the LEAP retention grades.
Schools have been allocated support personnel to provide support to teachers. We are opening new sections as we can and where we have available space.
Q: Are some high school class sizes above the 33 mark?
A: At the high school level, class size is a matter of school-level scheduling. Administrators should work to ensure that scheduling is done to avoid classes that are too large.
Schools are amply staffed (see charts below) with teachers and support personnel and school are free to reallocate their existing resources to alleviate any class size concerns.
Below are two examples of high-school staffing:
| John McDonogh High | | |
| Students: 570 | | |
| Teachers/support staff: 55 | Administrators | 4 |
| (one for every 10 students) | Teachers | 29 |
| | General Ed - 18 | |
| | Electives - 10 | |
| | Librarian/interventionist - 1 | |
| | Other teachers/support staff | 26 |
| | Special Ed - 4 | |
| | Instructional Coach/Master/Mentor - 2 | |
| | Paraprofessionals - 3 | |
| | University interns - 8 | |
| | City Year Corps Members - 9 | |
| Carver High | | |
| Students: 460 | | |
| Teachers/support staff: 55 | Administrators | 3 |
| (one for every 9 students) | Teachers | 25 |
| | General Ed - 16 | |
| | Electives - 8 | |
| | Librarian/interventionist - 1 | |
| | Other teachers/support staff | 32 |
| | Special Ed - 5 | |
| | Instructional Coach/Master/Mentor - 2 | |
| | Paraprofessionals - 6 | |
| | University interns - 8 | |
| | City Year Corps Members - 9 | |
Like the high schools, RSD elementary schools have ample support staff (including master/mentor teachers, paraprofessionals and university interns). Below is an example of elementary school staffing.
| Benjamin Banneker | | |
| Students: 511 | | |
| Teachers/support staff: 51 | Administrators | 2 |
| (one for every 10 children) | Teachers | 26 |
| | General Ed (with Pre-K) - 21 | |
| | Electives - 4 | |
| | Librarian/interventionist - 1 | |
| | Other teachers/support staff | 25 |
| | Special Ed - 7 | |
| | Instructional Coach/Master/Mentor - 3 | |
| | Paraprofessionals - 6 | |
| | University interns - 8 | |
Q: When does the RSD cap class sizes?
A: As a general rule, the RSD will close a section if it is 15 percent above the target ratio. There can be exceptions to avoid splitting siblings or avoid transporting students too far.
Q: What are the reasons for larger class sizes at some schools?
A: The majority of RSD class sizes are within target goals, which have not changed since last year. The District continues to register new students daily, sometimes faster than staffing can be adjusted. While some classes are above targets, schools have many additional personnel to assist classroom teachers, and the District will continue to open new sections where space is available to meet growing enrollment.
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