28-1. [Untitled]
The BOARD of Education acknowledges and strives to maintain class sizes as established in Board Policy Section 301.2 (Class Size) and Board report: 10-0615-PO1 (adopted June 15, 2010) shall provide as follows:
Elementary Schools and CTE Guidance Centers (if any)
Organization
Elementary Schools With Space Available
Effective July 1, 2025 and for the duration of this Agreement, in those elementary schools in which space is available, the maximum number of students in classes will generally be as follows:
- 25 at the kindergarten level
- 28 at the primary 1st - 3rd grade level
- 30 at the intermediate 4th - 8th grade level
- 20 in the education and CTE guidance centers (if any)
Implementation of these class sizes in specific schools may result in problems relating to class reorganization, single section classes, split grades, and installation of experimental programs. Local school deviations from the class sizes indicated above may be made by the principal, after consulting the Professional Problems Committee and the teachers involved, when necessary to implement special programs for instructional improvement or to meet special needs of the particular school.
Elementary Schools Without Space Available
In those elementary schools in which space is unavailable to organize classes as indicated above, the additional teachers provided under the staffing in (A) will share the curriculum planning, instructional responsibilities, and all other related duties of teachers. Said additional teachers will be programmed in such a way as to provide for maximum teacher-student contacts on a regularly scheduled basis to share the instructional load of the classroom teachers. Said additional teachers should not be used primarily for:
- administrative assistance
- building security purposes
- clerical or office-type tasks
- discipline purposes
- substituting
- lunchroom duty
- playground duty
- guidance purposes—adjustment and counseling
All schools will be designated as schools with space available or schools without space available. Five periodic reports will be prepared during the school year and will include the following:
- a listing of the names of the schools where space is available;
- a listing of the names of the schools where space is not available and where additional teachers have been assigned.
Elementary schools without space available and where additional teachers have been assigned will:
- receive first priority in the assignment of Cadre and day-to-day substitute teachers;
- have physical education teachers and teacher-librarians assigned based on the number of teaching positions, with each kindergarten class counted as one position.
HIGH SCHOOL STAFFING AND ORGANIZATION
The maximum number of students in the classes indicated below will generally be as follows:
English 28 Mathematics 28 Foreign Language 28 Social Studies 28 Business Education 28 General Science 28 Home Economics 28 Implementation of the policy on class sizes in specific schools may result in problems relating to individual class sizes, single section classes, installation of experimental programs, scheduling of special subject classes, and class organization and reorganization. Local school deviations from the class sizes indicated above may be made by the principal, after consulting the Professional Problems Committee and the teachers involved, when necessary to implement special programs for instructional improvement or to meet special needs of the particular schools. The total number of subject matter students assigned to each teacher should not exceed the number of subject classes multiplied by the maximum class size for the given subject indicated.
The number of students assigned to teachers indicated below will generally, if possible, be determined by multiplying the number indicated next to the subject by the number of classes in the given subject.
Art 31 General Music 31 (eff. 7/01/25) Physical Education 31 (eff. 7/01/25) Every effort will be made to keep the number of students in Fine Arts classes who utilize equipment stations necessary for the class, to the number of stations available in the room. Music classes may exceed the limit noted above, subject to the music teacher making a request to the principal and the Union delegate to waive the class size.
Elementary Schools–Art & Music
The BOARD will continue to assign art and music teachers to elementary schools in accordance with the following formula:
- .5 position for schools whose enrollment is 750 or less;
- 1.0 position for schools whose enrollment is 751 or more.
Every effort will be made to keep the number of students in Fine Arts classes who utilize equipment stations necessary for the class to the number of stations available in the room.
Music classes may exceed the limit noted above, subject to the music teacher making a request to the principal and the Union delegate to waive the class size.
Special Education The class size in special education classes shall be in accordance with the guidelines established by the BOARD in “Guidelines for Special Education Programs” and the Rules and Regulations of the State Board of Education.
Administrative Discretion in Exceptional Circumstances The Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer is authorized to permit deviations from this policy where circumstances in the judgment of either of them require it.
Procedures for Modifying Class Size Policy Prior to BOARD adoption of any amendments to this policy altering the class size provisions contained herein, notice and an opportunity to meet and confer regarding the alterations will be provided to the UNION at least 45 calendar days prior to implementation.
The class size in bilingual classes shall be in accordance with the guidelines established by the BOARD in the BOARD policy for bilingual education and the Rules and Regulations of the State Board of Education.