An Explanation from the Principal

(I changed the identifying details)

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Dear First Grade Parents,

I would like to thank X and Y for communicating with all of you and bringing to light the concerns that many of you are having regarding the present size of each first grade class.

As mentioned in our letters to parents in the October 15th and October 22nd - Thursday packets, we have been in the process of an enrollment drive with a goal of 20 new students by November 1. I am pleased to report that we have met and exceeded that goal at this moment.

Prior to launching this enrollment drive, the teaching staff and I spent approximately 6 hours, over a three week period of time, developing contingency plans for a variety of possible classroom arrangements depending on the number of students we would attract and at what grade level they would enter. We made the decision to place the new students into the existing classrooms for the 10 day period from October 23 to November 1; thus giving us time to see where the growth occurred and only make one organizational shift of classrooms. By making only one shift it will cause the least amount of disruption to students.

In the past seven school days we have received the largest number of new students at the first grade level: Total = 9

Boylee's Class Size

Friday, October 16 = 24
Monday, October 19 = 26
Tuesday, October 20 = 26
Friday, October 23 = 28
Monday, October 26 =28

The Other 1st Grade
Friday, October 16 = 24
Monday, October 19 = 26
Tuesday, October 20 = 28
Friday, October 23 = 28
Monday, October 26 = 29

As I mentioned, the staff and I decided to enroll the students during the two week period of time into the existing classrooms; thus, for the past 4 days we have had more than 24 students in each of the first grade classes. To assist with this, yesterday, we assigned additional aide time to each of the classrooms to make sure that the teachers are able to continue the excellent program and to help with making our new students feel welcome.

Our Charter was written four years ago to include multi-age classrooms, as our possible classroom structure. Multi-age classrooms are a signature for the organization of teaching and learning at UCLA's Lab School, the instructional model we pattern much of our program after. The current enrollment situation looks like it will allow us to move in that direction and create one blended class for kindergarten and first grade by the end of this week.

This is a good classroom organization for K and 1 students. A small group of kindergarten students will be blended with a small group of first grade students into one classroom with each grade attending class for the same number of minutes they currently do. When the kindergarten students are not present, the first grade students will work in a small group with the teacher for the remainder of their instructional minutes. Depending on the final tally of students, the first grade students in this blended classroom could experience a 12:1 student - teacher ratio for part of their day. By carefully choosing the students for placement in this situation we will be able to better meet individual student needs.

Our intention is to begin the new classroom organization on Tuesday, November 3; so, by the end of the week, staff members will talk with the parents of the students that we feel will benefit from a blended grade level situation and explain our rationale. Additionally, on Monday, November 2, I will schedule time to meet with the parents of the students forming the new class and describe the benefits of this to the parents. I will email you with the time and place on Monday for the meeting.

As always, the staff and I remain committed to the best education possible for our students and I remain committed to having happy, enthusiastic learners in our school. If students want to come to school, they will learn!

Thank you so much for you help and understanding as we move through this exciting transition.