Small Class Sizes for Mt. Lebo Elementary Schools!

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Author: jhacharron

Started: March 13, 2009, 9:21:11 pm

Target: Mt. Lebanon School Board

Category: Education

Supporters:

Goal:

100,000

Goal Progress:

Status

Active

Jefferson Elementary School Parents’

PETITION FOR SMALLER CLASS SIZES

As a parent of a child or children at Jefferson Elementary School, I am concerned with the ongoing trend of larger class sizes in our elementary school grades. I believe that:

*Large class sizes adversely affect the quality of education my child receives by causing increased disruption, distraction, behavioral and disciplinary issues.

*Large class sizes put my child at a disadvantage with other students in the School District and students from neighboring school districts who are in smaller classes (with 20 students or less in kindergarten through 3rd grade).

*Large class sizes limit a teacher’s ability to identify at risk children, provide more tailored and individualized instruction and teach the full curriculum by direct instruction.

*Large class sizes are not conducive to inclusive class rooms and create a negative learning experience for children of all abilities.

*Large class sizes contradict research which finds that smaller classes sizes provide long lasting positive learning experiences for children throughout their educational experience and result in increased achievement.

*Large class sizes are contrary to Mt. Lebanon’s mission to provide the “best education possible for each and every student” and its reputation for providing exceptional learning experiences for our children and its commitment to excellence in education.

As a concerned parent, I am asking the School Board and Administration to:

1.) Protect our children who are at risk in large classes by implementing a preferred class size philosophy of 18 students in accordance with Mt. Lebanon’s Balanced Scorecard, Strategic Plan 2010.

2.) Invest in our children’s future success by improving the learning experience of all children of all abilities through the implementation of smaller class sizes.

3.) Create a task force on class size consisting of parents and other community members to, among other things, reallocate funds to support smaller class sizes and address this recurring issue.

The continuation of Mt. Lebanon School District’s commitment to excellence in education, the furtherance of its mission, and the preservation of its reputation as a School District that provides quality learning experience is tied to smaller class sizes. Please hear our petition and make the necessary changes for the sake of our children.