DBS CODE:  6151

INSTRUCTION:

Class Size:

The Board of Education recognizes that children entering school bring diversified backgrounds to their learning environment.  In order to reduce the disparities and improve the likelihood of individual and group growth, the Board of Education supports the following class sizes, as a desired optimum, in the primary and elementary grades:

Preschool - up to 20 pupils per class*

Kindergarten and First Grade - 20 pupils per class
Second and Third Grades       - 23 pupils per class
Fourth through Sixth Grades  - 25 pupils per class

*Actual class size will be in accordance with the most recent recommended standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and will be lowered, as appropriate, to accommodate children who may need additional adult assistance to participate in the program because of ability, language fluency, developmental age or stage or other factors.

The desired maximum number of students per class is 25 at the Junior/Senior High School level.  However, the Board recognizes that certain class sizes will vary from year to year due to the course selection process.  Smaller class sizes, as a safety factor, in some subject areas may be more desirable (i.e., Lab Sciences, Industrial Arts and Quantity Foods).  The administration shall consider ten (10) pupils as a minimum guideline for scheduling elective course offerings.  At any time that the number of students electing to take a course is under the desired minimum, and that course is important to the individual educational programs of the students, the Board of Education will make every effort to meet the students' needs.

The Superintendent may recommend alternative measures to the Board of Education for approval if the desired optimum number of students per class cannot be met.

Adopted:  October 26, 1981
Revised:  February 14, 1983
August 27, 2007