By PATRICIA A. LAMSON
As we begin the 1996-97 school year in the Cupertino Union School District, I want to tell you about the new state legislation for class-size reduction in the primary grades, kindergarten through third, and how--with the input and assistance of our staff, parents and community--we will capitalize on this opportunity.
Briefly, the legislation allows school districts to apply for funds to lower class size to 20 students per certificated teacher in up to three primary grades at each school site. If all grades are not implemented at once, the priority of implementation is grade one, grade two and then either grade three or kindergarten. Districts may apply for a full-day program at a 20-to-1 ratio or a half-day program at 20-to-1 in reading and math--two areas our board of education has designated as priorities for this year. Districts have until Feb. 16, 1997, to implement one of the options.
State funding does not cover all the costs of adding teachers, classrooms or instructional materials. Some of these expenses would have to be covered by our district general fund, which is our ongoing instructional program dollars.
Our challenge is complex. We are a large district with 19 elementary schools that have varying needs. Our enrollment is growing and our current student-to-teacher ratio is 31-to-1. We are in the bottom third of districts in Santa Clara County in terms of our per- student funding from the state. These factors need to be considered in our planning.
We have some very important decisions to make in our district, and all of us need to be part of the decision-making process. We want to reduce class size in a manner that is consistent with our commitment to all students in grades K-8 to provide quality instructional programs in the classroom, qualified teachers who meet our district standards, adequate teacher training and safe, well-equipped learning environments. To compromise in any of these critical areas is not in the best interest of our students.
Our goal is to improve student learning. With input from our parents, staff and community, we will develop a multi-year plan at each of our schools to phase in current and future year class-size reductions while maintaining the integrity of our instructional program. Successfully implemented, class size can result in more individualized instruction, as well as increased student/teacher and parent/teacher contact--all of which promote student success.
I can promise you that we will move forward with class-size reduction in grade one at all our schools by February of this school year. How it will be implemented and the timing of implementation may differ from school to school.
We will not rush to a solution at the expense of good programs, good teaching and student achievement. Our thoughtful planning and purposeful implementation have served us well in the past. Class-size reduction must be part of a total plan that considers the availability of qualified teachers and the long-term financial, facility and program implications of what we do in the short-term. It must serve all our children well.
We truly value your input. For this reason, our board of education has scheduled a study session on K-3 class size reduction to hear ideas and concerns and discuss the variety of options available through the new legislation. The meeting will be held on Tue., Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Stocklmeir Elementary School, 592 Dunholme Way, in Sunnyvale. You are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Patricia A. Lamson is superintendent of the Cupertino Union School District.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, September 4, 1996.
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