First-graders at East Elementary School in Littleton study land forms with teacher Gina Maestas in class. Two pupils were absent from the class of 16. Class size is considered most important at younger levels such as the first grade. (Karl Gehring, The Denver Post)
When Greg Sumlin looks at the incoming kindergarten class at East Elementary School in Littleton, he sees a group of English learners who need immediate, intensive instruction — in small classes where teachers can give them individual attention.
Then he looks at this year's first-graders, calculates his staffing and crunches the numbers: although these kids also have high needs, three classrooms of 16 or 17 will have to be shoe-horned into two second-grade classes of 23.
It's a vexing academic sudoku that principals tackle — and teachers must adapt to — as schools try to line up budgets, staff and attendance projections in pursuit of an elusive educational sweet spot: effective class size.