Increasing TK to 24 with the promise of 3 staff per class is just that, a promise. OUSD has a trail of broken promises. Keep the class size for TK as it is.
As a transitional kindergarten teacher, it is highly concerning that parents of TK students are being promised a safe environment with responsive individualized education stewarded by 3 highly trained teachers and staff with class sizes up to 24 children. History tells us, these new positions of support are not guaranteed to be filled on the first day of school. Research tells us that smaller class sizes directly impact students with a greater sense of security, safety, belonging and happiness. We are tasked with providing these families’ most precious thing a safe, empowering, strengthening experience in early learning. Current worldwide conditions tell us that just because something is legal doesn’t make it right. Superintendent, just because you promise these conditions to our families and teachers, doesn’t make it so.
As an OUSD TK teacher, I strongly oppose the decision that was made without OEA or TK/K committee collaboration to put 24 students in many TK classes. The district claims they will staff these classrooms with 2 support roles and a teacher, but many support roles are currently still vacant mid-year. It is unrealistic to claim that all TK classrooms with 24 students will be staffed with a legal and safe ratio. Research proves time and time again that lower class sizes increase positive outcomes for students and teachers. The District had an opportunity to ensure quality TK programs with a 20 student maximum, and they didn’t take it. Very disappointing. We all want all Oakland students to have access to QUALITY TK programs. Stuffing classrooms with more students and adults does not quality as our youngest scholars learn how to be at school and learn emotional regulation skills needed to succeed in life. In TK less is more.
Despite the fact that OUSD and the Oakland Children's Initiative (Measure AA) plans to staff some TK classes with 3 adults in order to increase enrollment to 24 students, it is very concerning that historical and current vacancies in these support role positions means that we're at risk of being in unsafe adult to child ratios that are not only required by law, but are also best practices for early childhood settings.
I would like to speak against the district's plan to put 24 TK students in some classrooms. I think that this plan comes out of a misunderstanding of the nature of TK. Because independent choice is such an integral part of the TK day, more students means fewer choices for all of those students. This is because, since the pandemic, safety concerns have skyrocketed in TK classrooms and the teacher has to provide enough space for everyone to play safely, and provide intensive instruction in social-emotional skills and self-regulation. This means participation has to be limited in each area. It also provides a burden for the classroom teacher in grading and filling out the DRDP, which only the main classroom teacher is considered qualified to do. The teacher simply won't have as much time to build relationships with students or get to know them. Finally, while the district claims 3 adults will be in the class to maintain the ratio, there is nor eason to believe they can fill all positions.
I firmly disagree with the presentation of TK as a program that will deliver what it promises to families who are enrolling in the program. No matter how “developmentally-appropriate” the curriculum or how “highly-trained” the teaching force for this age group, if the environment is not conducive for children’s most safe, responsive or empowering entrance into the education system. Any class size above 20 is a HUGE disservice to the learning of children ages 8 and below… 3, 4, ans 5 year olds require a more individualized approach to care which the district aggressive to provide for (hiring 2 more adults per class with more than 20 kids) but who do you expect to fill these positions with so that TK teachers are not left caring for 24 children with a tutor or no aide at all? No matter how great a teacher or how well-regulated a child is, raising the number of children AND ADULTS in a space is harmful and detrimental to our students and teachers wellbeing. Act like you care and respond!
Increasing TK to 24 with the promise of 3 staff per class is just that, a promise. OUSD has a trail of broken promises. Keep the class size for TK as it is.
As a transitional kindergarten teacher, it is highly concerning that parents of TK students are being promised a safe environment with responsive individualized education stewarded by 3 highly trained teachers and staff with class sizes up to 24 children. History tells us, these new positions of support are not guaranteed to be filled on the first day of school. Research tells us that smaller class sizes directly impact students with a greater sense of security, safety, belonging and happiness. We are tasked with providing these families’ most precious thing a safe, empowering, strengthening experience in early learning. Current worldwide conditions tell us that just because something is legal doesn’t make it right. Superintendent, just because you promise these conditions to our families and teachers, doesn’t make it so.
As an OUSD TK teacher, I strongly oppose the decision that was made without OEA or TK/K committee collaboration to put 24 students in many TK classes. The district claims they will staff these classrooms with 2 support roles and a teacher, but many support roles are currently still vacant mid-year. It is unrealistic to claim that all TK classrooms with 24 students will be staffed with a legal and safe ratio. Research proves time and time again that lower class sizes increase positive outcomes for students and teachers. The District had an opportunity to ensure quality TK programs with a 20 student maximum, and they didn’t take it. Very disappointing. We all want all Oakland students to have access to QUALITY TK programs. Stuffing classrooms with more students and adults does not quality as our youngest scholars learn how to be at school and learn emotional regulation skills needed to succeed in life. In TK less is more.
Despite the fact that OUSD and the Oakland Children's Initiative (Measure AA) plans to staff some TK classes with 3 adults in order to increase enrollment to 24 students, it is very concerning that historical and current vacancies in these support role positions means that we're at risk of being in unsafe adult to child ratios that are not only required by law, but are also best practices for early childhood settings.
I would like to speak against the district's plan to put 24 TK students in some classrooms. I think that this plan comes out of a misunderstanding of the nature of TK. Because independent choice is such an integral part of the TK day, more students means fewer choices for all of those students. This is because, since the pandemic, safety concerns have skyrocketed in TK classrooms and the teacher has to provide enough space for everyone to play safely, and provide intensive instruction in social-emotional skills and self-regulation. This means participation has to be limited in each area. It also provides a burden for the classroom teacher in grading and filling out the DRDP, which only the main classroom teacher is considered qualified to do. The teacher simply won't have as much time to build relationships with students or get to know them. Finally, while the district claims 3 adults will be in the class to maintain the ratio, there is nor eason to believe they can fill all positions.
I firmly disagree with the presentation of TK as a program that will deliver what it promises to families who are enrolling in the program. No matter how “developmentally-appropriate” the curriculum or how “highly-trained” the teaching force for this age group, if the environment is not conducive for children’s most safe, responsive or empowering entrance into the education system. Any class size above 20 is a HUGE disservice to the learning of children ages 8 and below… 3, 4, ans 5 year olds require a more individualized approach to care which the district aggressive to provide for (hiring 2 more adults per class with more than 20 kids) but who do you expect to fill these positions with so that TK teachers are not left caring for 24 children with a tutor or no aide at all? No matter how great a teacher or how well-regulated a child is, raising the number of children AND ADULTS in a space is harmful and detrimental to our students and teachers wellbeing. Act like you care and respond!