Class Size Policy

Does anyone know the official CPS policy regarding class size? How many children do you have to have before they are required to provide another teacher and split the class?

In my school (I am a teacher in a SEES) we have a few classrooms in the mid to high 30's. Two years ago we had 40 in kindergarten with no assistant in the room. I met many teachers at the recent strike rallies with similar class sizes at schools across the city.

I remember a few years ago there was an uproar against Mr. Huberman's threat to raise class sizes to 37. But 37 seems pretty common nowadays.

I think one of the district's "tricks" is to calculate the teacher to student ratio by including ancillary teachers (music, PE, art, etc.) in the total, even though they do not have a homeroom.

I know the first grade limit is 28, but they can't do anything at all until it reaches 35 and even then it's tricky. My daughter taught a kdg that had 45 until the principal fought and fought for another teacher. I know the formula might include the ancillary teachers so that makes it an incorrect calculation. It's tricky CPS math that no one can figure out.

I believe the official CPS policy is maintained in the teacher contract. It's really a goal for class size, and it's used to allocate classroom teachers to each school based on enrollment. I don't believe that ancillary teachers are included. But, the Assistant Principal usually is. If the AP isn't also teaching a class, then you're already going to have higher class sizes than the policy. Schools (i.e. principals) are given significant flexibility in choosing to combine classes or assign classroom responsibilities to APs, curriculum specialists, or other positions. So, you might first ask your principal, local school council, or union representative about options for addressing high class sizes in your school.

Palmer has 4 Kindergarten classes in the mid 30s, one with 38. It's nuts, but I don't think they can make another KG class there due to space issues.