Kindergarten Class Sizes

[WSLVR]

What I’d like to know is there a limit to class size that the SPS district allows? Arbor Heights has three kindergarten classes with an average of 30 kids each and currently only one TA for all three. How does that work? I hope they add a 4th class.

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[bsmomma]

From what I remember, there were 25-32 kids in my Kindergarden class. And 32 in each grade after at a private school.

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[moxilot]

Sacajawea (in Lake City) has 20 kids, plus two TAs, I believe. A good friend’s daughter just started Kindy on Tuesday. They are ecstatic about the class size. They also have a Boys & Girls club on site that allows you to drop your kids off early, and the Club walks them to their class in the morning and walks them back to their facility after school.

Not WS, but there you go FWIW.

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[mehud7]

SPS class limits are up to 28 students in K-3, I believe. They are fortunate to have the IA. After the fall enrollment deadline, early October, the district will has to do something about classrooms with too many children. Hopefully, in your case, some parents will be available to volunteer to help the students and the teacher receive more help.

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[Bonnie]

I believe Lafayette is in the same situation. I don’t think they will add another classroom. Also, there are two kindergarten teachers assistants but I think both are part time. I think they are paid through the PTSA but I’m not sure. Go to the next PTSA meeting to voice your concerns. I think it was last night though.

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[bertha]

The Arbor Heights PTSA meeting is the third Thursday of the month. Last night was the Board meeting. No one is happy about the class sizes this year and I personally once again question the wisdom of closing schools.

Yes, there are two part time kindergarten TAs partially funded through the PTSA. Both are great people and put in far more hours than they are paid for. Many parents also volunteer in the classrooms (not just kindergarten but in all classes).

For all parents; please support your PTSA especially now when this organization’s financial support is critical to our children’s success. The AH PTSA supports the instrumental music program, kindegarten TAs, teacher stipends for supplies, art programs, library purchases, playground equipment, etc, etc, etc…. And it’s not just at AH, this is true across the district as budgets get leaner and leaner the PTSA steps up to fund more and more. So attend the meetings and become members!

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[manolita]

Alki Elementary has a new kindrgarten class and the class size dropped down from 28 to 22. My son got to be with the same kindergarten teacher my daughter got last year (I know, two kindergarteners in a row!) and we are very pleased.

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[Bonnie]

Why do some schools have so many kids per class while others don’t? Did they draw the boundaries right?

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[Wes]

Cause it’s Public School in Seattle! They can’t even paint a giant “R”! My friends daughter went to a WS elementary kindergarten last year and is way behind another friends son who went to a local private school kindergarten, by a lot! Scarry!

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[mehud7]

Wes- please don’t blame the schools for differences in children. You are talking about five year olds. Give them a chance!

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[justcuz]

I don’t know if it’s still the case, but 10+ years ago, Alki really worked hard to achieve smaller class sizes, or at least lower ratios with assistants. It was one of the reasons we chose it (and Alki Community Center next door also walked the Ks to and from kid care!). I remember private (specifically Holary Rosary) had very large classes then too.

–

Whether or not it’s still one of their stated/recorded/planned-for priorities, I’m not sure – or if it’s always obtainable in these tight times – but 22 doesn’t surprise me. Our three Alki K classes were in the teens. And yes, there was PTA fundraising.

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[ClawGirl]

Hearing about all these large class sizes makes me grateful for our small student/teacher ratios at Tilden: 16 kids with 2 teachers in Kindergarten (and similar for older grades). We were at Lafayette for 2 years with our oldest child, where 26+ kids with 1 teacher was the norm. We were heartbroken to give up on the public schools, but the difference in learning environments is like night and day.

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[Bonnie]

ClawGirl, it must be nice but not everybody can afford Tilden.

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[ttt]

I’m a teacher in Sumner School District. Our union fought for class size caps many years ago and our district agreed as it is what is best for kids. I think our kindergarten classes cannot be above 24. This year I have 20 students and it is heaven! I can actually get more things accomplished with my students individually because of it. I think the SPS class sizes are absurd for k-3. The foundation grades are truly the most important and they need to have the lowest class sizes possible. Although studies show that it doesn’t make much academic difference unless the class size is 15 or less, as a teacher, I can tell you it truly does make a difference in how much one-to-one time I can spend with my students if the class size is below 24.

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[Julie]

Actually, the research on class size is itself a source of contradiction and controversy.

More recent studies appear to support the long-term benefits of reducing class size. Some earlier studies had not.

It seems to me that, generally, people who want to reduce class size cite the later studies; people who want to reduce public spending cite the earlier ones.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080228112004.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091014122045.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091009104649.htm

If you are concerned about class size, I urge you to keep in mind the latest state budget forecast, and the prospect of passing initiatives that will reduce state revenue, and failing to pass initiative 1098, which would help a little.

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[ttt]

Thanks for the info. on the more recent studies. The studies I was speaking of were from the mid ’90s when a school I was working for in the Clover Park School District was looking for ways to use title one monies that would improve student achievement.

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