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EASTON AREA
SCHOOL DISTRICT
No. 126
SECTION:
PROGRAMS
TITLE:
CLASS SIZE
ADOPTED:
August 27, 2007
REVISED:
November 18, 2010
126. CLASS SIZE
1.
Authority
The Board reserves to itself and through the administration the determination of
class size.
2.
Delegation of
Responsibility
The Superintendent shall prepare guidelines for class size, which shall take into
account:
1.
Subject matter.
2.
Type of instruction.
3.
Ability of students.
4.
Age group of students.
5.
Use of aides.
6.
Use of special facilities and equipment.
3.
Guidelines
Class size shall be related to the nature of the course study and the equipment needed
for instruction.
The administration shall assign the number of students per class to enable the teacher
to have a reasonable amount of time for guiding the progress of each student.
At the elementary level, class size shall not exceed twenty-nine (29) students.
At the elementary level, when class size reaches twenty-five (25) students, a review,
after twenty (20) school days, will be conducted to determine if student progress is
being affected. The review committee will include the building principal, teacher(s)
and parents/guardians.
At the elementary level, the Superintendent or designee shall make an effort to
equalize class size within a grade level district-wide.
126. CLASS SIZE - Pg. 2
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CURRICULUM/COURSE OFFERINGS
Curriculum and course offerings shall be reconciled with state standards, mandated
assessments, and the job market. The annual reconciliation process will occur, at
each appropriate grade level, as per the curriculum review process in the district’s
strategic plan. The sharing of “best practices” at grade/building levels will be part of
this process. The review process will also address deficiencies that have been noted
in PSSA, NCLB, and other district and state assessment measures.
This review process will, particularly at the secondary level, also reconcile
curriculum and course offerings with workforce/career opportunities in the Lehigh
Valley/state.
When overlap/redundancies/deficiencies are discovered in this review process,
revisions will be made to the curriculum or course offerings to include, but not be
limited to: content, outcomes, scope, sequence, instructional materials/equipment,
etc. (Examples of previous revisions include: Consumer Economics, 12th Grade
History.)
Guidelines for curriculum/course offerings (secondary level):
College Prep Courses
Examples: English, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science.
Except for physical restrictions, such as seating, laboratory stations, equipment, etc.,
student capacities will be as follows: maximum – 30; minimum - 15.
These courses generally “load” in an even and orderly fashion; however, exceptions
can occur that require adjustments that exceed these guidelines.
Advanced Placement And Honors
Examples: AP/Honors English, History, Science, World Language.
Again, the physical restrictions noted above may prevail (maximum – 30; minimum
- 12).
When student requests for these courses fall outside of these guidelines, the
following alternative delivery systems will be considered:
1.
Deferred offering (next year, for full-year courses).
126. CLASS SIZE - Pg. 3
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2.
Independent study.
3.
Course offerings at institutions of higher learning.
4.
Combined classes for different levels (e.g. Italian 4 & Italian Literature).
5.
Web-based courses or e-learning (IU 20/district level)/distance learning).
6.
Courses shared with other districts.
The district will not consider such alternative delivery systems when undue/
extraordinary costs may be incurred.
Applied/On-level Courses
Examples: English, History, Science, Math (maximum – 26; minimum - 12).
As may be appropriate, students who select these courses will be challenged, via
counseling, to take more rigorous courses.
Elective Courses
Examples: Art, Family Consumer Science, Tech Ed., Business Ed., World Language
(maximum – 30; minimum - 15).
As noted above, when student requests fall outside these guidelines, alternative
delivery systems will be considered, including deferred semester offerings.
Six (6) credits from electives in the following departments are required for students
to meet graduation requirements: Art; Business Education; CIT; Family &
Consumer Science; Music; Technology Education; World Languages; and the
electives in English; Social Studies; Mathematics; and Science. The diversity of the
student population requires a diversity of the curricular offerings to meet needs and
interests.
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Criteria for addition or elimination of curriculum/course offerings:
1.
Rationale for adding a new curriculum/course offering:
a.
When the curriculum review process (strategic plan) indicates need relative
to deficiency, as noted above.
b.
When a course is needed to help students achieve academic standards as
indicated by PSSA, NCLB, other district assessments.
c.
Survey of student needs and interests.
d.
Alignment with job market (noted above).
e.
Alignment with strategic planning/goals.
2.
Rationale for eliminating a curriculum/course offering:
a.
When the curriculum review cycle indicates an overlap/redundancy, or some
need for revisions in scope, sequence, etc.
b.
History of low student requests:
1)
Step 1 - deferment.
2)
Step 2 - after three (3) years, consider elimination.
c.
Unavailability of resources (i.e. staffing, equipment, etc.).
d.
When the offering is no longer relevant to the job market.
Exceptions: Given the complexities of course/curriculum scheduling, it must be
understood that exceptions to this policy, these guidelines, will likely occur on a
semester and/or school year basis. Such exceptions will be rationalized, documented,
and reported for information on a timely basis to the School Board. Official School
Board action will be required relative to the addition of new, or elimination of old
courses/curriculum.