OUSD Class Size
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OUSD Class Size
Marxh 2007
My child will be attending one of the oversubscribed schools in
Oakland. In order to deal with a large increase in students,
the rumor is that kindergarten classes are going to be huge.
That's frightening. I went online and read that California
kindergarten classes can reach a maximum of 33 students. Is
that right? Previously I read that Oakland kindergarten classes
might be a maximum of 27 but that they strive for fewer (around
20). I'd love to hear from other parents on class size. Do they
really go up to 27 or even 33 kids? How common is the following
situation: two smaller classes of 20 and one large class of 27?
The latter situation seems very unfair to the students in the
extra big class.
Already worried
My kids go to Sequoia in Oakland. Kindergarten classes are limited to
20 kids. You
should be able make an appointment to sit in on classes before the end
of this year.
Go to your neighborhood school in the afternoon when school lets out
and find the
kindergarten classrooms. You should be able to catch a few parents and
their kids
on their way out the door. Ask your school to help you connect with a
few parents of
kids already attending. I've noticed that the parents of preschool age
kids in our
neighborhood seem to be passing a lot of incorrect information about
our
neighborhood school among themselves. In our area there seems to be the
perception that neighborhood kids go to school somewhere else. It's
simply not
true. I know many parents who are willing to talk to prospective
parents. Save
yourself worry and time by getting your information directly from the
school and its
parent community.
Sequoiaschool.net
Sequoia Elementary Mama
The ''unfair'' situation you mention (20/20/27) is very common, for
this reason:
Schools get state money for every Kindergarten class that stays at 20
or below, and not
for any class that goes over. So, rather than split 22/22/23 (as would
seem fair) and
get no money, they split 20/20/27 and get money for 2 of 3 classes.
It is also at least somewhat common (happened in our school last year)
for at least
some of the 27 kids to go elsewhere and not actually start at the
school-- we ended
up with 20/20/22.
Karen
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Last updated: May 13, 2007
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