BURKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

1
BURKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

• Appropriate (Reduced) Class Size Program
• February 25, 2003

2
History of Appropriate (Reduced)Class Size in the
Burke County Public Schools

• Why? (Task Force/Research of 1990/1991)
• Affiliation with SERVE
• Actual Implementation Cycle

3
BURKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLSIMPLEMENTATION OF
APPROPRIATE (REDUCED) CLASS SIZES1990-1991 TASK
FORCE/RESEARCH CONDUCTED
4
Benefits of Appropriate (Reduced) Class Size

• Opportunity to Close the Achievement Gap (i.e.,
  most growth demonstrated for minority and
  disadvantaged children)
• Instruction Tailored to Individual Student Assets
  and Interests (i.e., remediate weaknesses through
  strengths)
• Enhanced Feeling of Class Cohesiveness (i.e., a
  class family less classroom disruptions from
  behavioral disturbances)
• Increased Parental Involvement
• Documented Student Achievement

5
Parent Conferences
6
Parent Conferences
7
Student Membership
8
Free and Reduced Lunch Increase
9
ELL Students
10
Third Grade Reading
11
Third Grade Math
12
Progress of Same Students Over Time
13
Progress of Same Students Over Time
14
Reading Proficiency
15
Math Proficiency
Problem with Scoring of the New NC Math EOG at
State Level
16
Comparison of Students
17
Funding Appropriate (Reduced) Class Size

• Conversion of Other Funds
• Local Funds
• Low Wealth Funds
• Federal Reduced Class Size Funds
• Other

18
Burke County Public Schools ProfessionalStaff
Development in Conjunction with Reduced Class Size

•  I    Teacher support and development activities
  must focus on the specific needs of small-class
  teachers and follow the principles of effective
  programming. Gina M. Pannozzo and Jeremy D.
  Finn, Professional Development and Support Needs
  of Class Size Reduction Teachers, paper
  presented at the National Invitational Conference
  on Taking Small Classes One Step Further,
  Washington, D.C., December, 2000.
•  
• II.     Best Use of Professional Staff
  Development and Teacher Support Occur When
•  
• A. Mentoring from an experienced peer teacher at
  the same grade level and school site takes place
  (All teachers at the same grade level plan weekly
  which objectives from the North Carolina
  Standard Course of Study will be taught and
  decide the common theme for curriculum
  integration. The daily classroom planning and
  implementation process is supported by the
  teachers mentor.)
•  
• B.    In-class modeling/demonstrations by the
  schools systems K-2 and 3-5 instructional
  facilitators happen (Any teacher new to the
  profession, the grade level, or the Burke County
  Public Schools (BCPS) has this opportunity. The
  time with each teacher is based upon his/her
  individual needs. The 1-1 support/demonstration
  lessons occur after systemwide inservice on a
  best-practice instructional strategy or
  principal/teacher request.)
•  
• C.    Current best practice, scientifically
  researched instructional practices are
  presented.
•  
• D. Teachers want to most effectively teach the
  curriculum to every
• child and actively seek out learning
  opportunities that will help
• them achieve the greatest gains for
  their class family.
•  

19
Negative Impacts of Appropriate (Reduced) Class
Size

• Expense (Creative funding and a commitment to the
  program are critical.)
• Political Ramifications (i.e., Teacher Assistant
  Positions Converted to Teaching Positions)
• Need for Additional Space (Creative
  thinking/funding and a commitment to the program
  are critical.)

20
Reduced Class Size Publications

• Class-Size Reduction in Grades K-3
• Jeremy D. Finn, State University of New York at
  Buffalo
• http//www.asu.edu/educ/epsl/EPRU/documents/EPRU
  2002-101/Chapter 02-Finn-Final.htm
• Reducing Class Size What Do We Know?
• Ivor Pritchard, National Institute on Student
  Achievement, Curriculum and Assessment
• http//www.ed.gov/pubs/ReducingClass
•  
• The Evidence on Class Size
• Eric A. Hanushek, W. Allen Wallis Institute of
  Political Economy
•  http//www.wallis.rochester.edu/WallisPapers/wal
  lis_10.pdf

21
Q and A(Questions and Answers)