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| ASTA Comments to State Deptartment of Education Re: Student Assignment Load |
| posted by: Alana | March 08, 2016, 11:26 PM |
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February 3, 2016 RE: ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RULES GOVERNING STANDARDS FOR ACCREDITATION OF ARKANSAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS: 10.02 CLASS SIZE AND TEACHING LOAD Dear Commissioner Key,
Below are the rules governing class size and teaching load for Arkansas teachers. Last year it was brought to our attention some educators serving in middle schools, typically grades five and six where academic content areas are compartmentalized, that teachers in academic subjects, including science and social studies, were being assigned up to one hundred sixty-eight (168) students. While the assignment of twenty-eight (28) per class complies with rule 10.02.4, we are very concerned there are districts taking advantage of the fact that 10.02.4 has not been updated or clarified to reflect the reality of current middle school configurations in Arkansas that require many four, five, and six grade teachers to teach up to six (6) sections of academic content classes. From what we can discern, most districts adhere to the spirit of rule 10.02.5 and do not assign teachers of academic classes more than one hundred fifty (150) students. In fact, there are districts that pay teachers serving below grade seven additional compensation if assigned more than one hundred fifty (150) students.
Because of the inconsistencies across the state and the excessive number of students being assigned many teachers of grades five and six, we respectfully request the Arkansas Department of Education ask the School Board to clarify rule 10.02.4, as 10.02.5 is, to reflect a total number of students one academic content teacher can be assigned. If the same formula used for rule 10.02.5 is applied to 10.02.4 to clarify teaching load, rule 10.02.4 would read: “The average student/teacher ratio for grades four through six in a school district shall be no more than twenty-five (25) students per teacher in a classroom. There shall be no more than twenty-eight (28) students per teacher in any classroom. A teacher shall not be assigned more than one hundred forty (140) students.”
March 2015, Representative Dotson made an inquiry of the Arkansas Department of Education regarding this matter. He relayed to me the Department informed him this issue could indeed be resolved with a rule clarification and did not require legislation.
Thank you for your consideration in this critical matter.
Sincerely,
Michele Linch
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Comments (1)
art teacher overloaded written by Jennifer , November 02, 2016
I am an art teacher shared between schools. I teacher 9-12, and then 8th at a separate school. I have approximately 200 students total, and only one 40 minute prep per day. I am allowed only 7 minutes to travel leaving me 3 minutes to prepare to teach at the school that I have to travel to. This is causing me to stay super late everyday to compensate for the time that I just am not allowed in the schedule. I am trying to figure out a few things. Am I technically teaching over my maximum number of students, and should I be given more time to travel/prep? How do I find out without ruffling too many feathers?
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