Blake School District
Board Policy

  BP 6151 
Instruction

 Class Size

The Governing Board recognizes that the number of students in a class may affect the extent to which teachers can identify and respond to individual student needs.

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent/Principal/Teacher or designee, the Board shall establish upper and lower class size limits appropriate for the grade level or subject taught and conducive to the effective use of teaching staff.

The Superintendent/Principal/Teacher or designee shall regularly submit reports when deemed necessary that will enable the Board to evaluate the effectiveness of the class size reduction program and its impact on student achievement and on the attainment of the district's goals.  These reports shall also include an analysis of the impact of class size reduction on staffing and school facilities needs.

(cf. 0200 - Goals for the School District)
(cf. 0500 - Accountability)
(cf. 6117 - Year-Round Schedules)
(cf. 7111 - Evaluating Existing Buildings)

Class Size Reduction in Grades K-3

The Board believes that small class size is beneficial to students in the primary grades as they acquire the basic skills that serve as the foundation for their subsequent learning. The Superintendent/Principal/Teacher or designee shall ensure that classes in primary grades designated by the Board are reduced to 20 or fewer students per teacher in accordance with law.

Full-time mainstreamed special education students shall be included in determining class size for purposes of the class size reduction program.

(cf. 6159 - Individualized Education Program)

In accordance with law, the Superintendent/Principal/Teacher or designee shall ensure that the teachers of classes in the class size reduction program receive training designed to help them to maximize the educational advantages of class size reduction.

(cf. 4131 - Staff Development)

Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
17042  Rules for determining area of adequate school construction; exceptions
17042.7  Formula for calculation
33050  Nonwaivable provisions
35160  Authority of the board
41375  Legislative intent encouraging reduction in class size
41376  Minimum class size standards
41378  Apportionments and allowances, kindergarten classes
42280  Necessary small schools
46205  Computation for early-late programs
51225.3  Graduation requirements
52080-52090   Morgan-Hart Class Size Reduction Act 
52120-52128.5 Class Size Reduction program
GOVERNMENT CODE
3543.2  Scope of representation
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
15103  Definitions
15130-15133  Class size reduction program K-3
15140-15141  Class size reduction in two courses in grade 9

Management Resources:
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
Frequently Asked Questions, K-3 Class Size Reduction Program, revised July 2005
WEB SITES
CSBA:  http://www.csba.org
California Department of Education, class size reduction:  http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/cs/

(10/97  10/98)  11/05

Adopted:   January 2008