IIB - Cohort and Class Size Policy

            IIB

Cohort and Class Size Policy

 

Policy Statement

Acton Elementary School is a small school with constantly fluctuating student numbers at every cohort and grade level.  As such, the Acton School Department believes it is important to have a class size policy with class size recommendations to help administration determine when additional staff need to be assigned or hired. As a part of this policy, the Acton School Department believes it is important to shift away from age-based practices for determining class size. Therefore, the ASD recommends a group policy based on cohorts as well as class size.


  1. Purpose

The purpose of the Cohort and Class Size policy is to provide guidance to administration when deciding teacher and Ed Tech  placement and hiring, particularly in support of proficiency-based learning.


  1. Scope

This policy applies to all cohorts and classes at Acton Elementary School.


  1. Responsible Parties

The superintendent, in coordination with the school administrative team, will be responsible for complying with this policy.


  1. Definitions

    1. Class size is defined by the teacher to student ratios as related to instructional groupings of students.


  1. Principles to Guide Class Size Decisions

    1. The school committee will comply with state regulations (05-071 Chapter 125, Maine Dept Ed) regarding class size.  Currently, the state recommends the following:

      1. Pre-Kindergarten: 8:1 ratio of teachers to students

      2. Kindergarten: 20:1 ratio of teachers to students

      3. Grades 1-8: 25:1 ratio of teachers to students

    2. In compliance with the policy on proficiency-based learning, the School Committee supports basing cohort and class groupings on student need and not on age as has historically been practiced. The school committee may recommend years when class and/or cohort dynamics warrants it.  (Policy IK) In other words, cohort and class sizes will be based on student needs and derived from multiple data sources to inform instructional practices.

    3. The School Committee supports increasing the average student to teacher ratio as students progress yearly through their learning at Acton Elementary School.  In general, AES will have lower student to teacher ratios at the early stages of public education than older students.


  1. Guidelines

    1. Beginning in the 2015-16 school year, AES will structure staff into instructional teams or cohorts.  This will consist of a group of teachers and groups of students at different age levels..  


  1. The following are the suggested cohorts for AES.

    1. Pre-Kindergarten: Students that are at least 4 years of age by Oct 15 of a school year.  

    2. K-2: Students with traditional grade level assignments of kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade.  

    3. 3-5: Students with traditional grade level assignments of 3rd to 5th grade.

    4. 6-8: Student with traditional grade level assignments of 6th to 8th grade.


  1. The following are the recommended average teacher to student class ratios by cohort.

Cohort (grade level)

Student to teacher Average ratio

Other note:

Prek

8 to 1 

With Ed Tech 16 to 1

K-2

20 to 1

3-5

20 to 1

6-8

23 to 1


  1. In years when the student to teacher ratio exceeds these values by a small number, the School Committee will attempt to address the need through a combination of teacher and Ed Tech placement and hiring. 

  2. The school committee may recommend in years when class and or cohort dynamics warrants it 

Cross Reference:

05-071 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Chapter 124

05-071  DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Chapter 125

Adopted:   December 8, 2015

Revised:   April 10, 2025