1. I.                  Purpose of Policy

It is the intent of the Board to comply with Vermont Act 153 - The Voluntary School merger Act of 2010 which requires superintendents to work with school boards to develop policy guidelines for optimal average class sizes in regular and technical education classes.  Class size guidelines will be used to inform annual decisions related to staffing and program offerings.

II.        Policy Scope

            All schools and programs in the Hartford School District must comply with this policy.

III.       Policy Statement

The superintendent or his or her designee shall, in consultation with building principals, develop district-wide optimal average class size guidelines that take into account the instructional needs of specific elementary grade intervals and required and elective courses at the secondary level.  

1. Class size guidelines in the district may vary as necessary to reflect differences among programs and schools within the district due to factors such as school size and programmatic needs.  
2. The guidelines shall ensure compliance with state or federal requirements related to matters such as student-teacher ratios, special education, technical education and English Language Learners.
3. The superintendent shall report to the Board at least annually on the implementation of this policy, and shall include in his or her report information related to the use of the guidelines in determining actual class sizes and program offerings in the schools within the school district.