<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1VJrdI_1Gu8FeCQ00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1VJrdI_1Gu8FeCQ00" width="1763" height="1176" ><figcaption>In the Madison school district, about 22% of elementary school classrooms fall outside the School Board’s class size targets this fall — up from about 16% of elementary school classrooms last fall. RUTHIE HAUGE</figcaption></figure>The Cap Times is an independent newsroom serving Madison and Wisconsin. Sign up for the Morning Update to receive news in your inbox each morning.While the majority of classes in Madison public schools are within target class size ranges this fall, classes for early elementary school grades are smaller on average and more elementary classrooms are falling below the district’s minimum goal.In 2017, the School Board created a class size policy outlining the ideal number of students for specific grade levels and class subjects. The policy’s minimum class size across all grades is 15 students. The highest maximum class size is 40 students for middle and high school classes in non-core subjects, such as arts and music.This school year, about 78% of classes across all grade levels in the Madison Metropolitan School District are within the policy’s target ranges, according to a district report recently presented to the School Board. About 9% of class sections are above the board’s maximum goal, while 13% fall below the minimum goal.In elementary schools, about 22% of classrooms are below the School Board’s target this fall — up from about 16% of elementary school classrooms last fall. The school district changed the format of its class sizes report to the School Board this year, making it unclear what has changed at middle and high schools since last year.Enrollment decreases district-wide may be part of why more elementary school classes are falling below the policy’s levels. Madison schools are down about 300 students from last year despite the district’s estimates that enrollment would remain flat.Bob Soldner, assistant superintendent of financial services, said in an interview prior to the report that smaller class sizes would be one impact of decreased enrollment because teachers had already signed their employment contracts for the school year. He said the district wouldn’t want to “disrupt our educational programming” by reducing teaching staff following the enrollment drop.Across the district, Soldner said, classrooms are more often closer to the class size policy’s minimum number of students rather than the maximum number of students. “That comes with a cost,” he added.Cindy Green, the district’s assistant superintendent for strategy and innovation, said in a statement that some smaller class sizes are due to students changing schools and unique complexities with determining classes at individual schools. Other smaller classes are the result of intentional choices by the district, she said.A majority of elementary class sections below district goals are at schools participating in the state’s Achievement Gap Reduction program. The program aims to improve academic performance at schools serving more low-income families, in part through the help of smaller class sizes. Out of 32 elementary schools in the district, 20 are eligible for the program, according to state data.“We know that smaller class sizes allow for more personalized instruction and attention, which nurture and promote student success,” Green said.Schools in the Achievement Gap Reduction program have about one to three fewer students per class on average than those not in the program, according to this fall's report. Younger grades across all elementary schools tend to have smaller class sizes, too.As part of the district’s $100 million operations referendum in 2024, district leaders pledged to make class sizes in kindergarten and first grade smaller. Average class sizes in both grades have decreased from two years ago, district data shows.“We are grateful that the community and our Board of Education have allowed us to invest in keeping our class sizes small, particularly for early grades at the elementary level,” Green said. “We are proud of the continued efforts we have made in this area to prioritize personalized teaching and learning, particularly in comparison to other local and national school districts.”A research review by the Madison school district in 2023 found large class size reductions by seven to 10 students can improve learning outcomes, especially in younger grades. However, the report cautioned that the magnitude of the impact varies depending on other factors like teacher quality, and cutting class sizes “may not be as cost efficient as other possible reforms” for boosting student achievement.Got a news tip?At the Oct. 2 School Board meeting where district administrators presented the new class sizes report, some board members questioned how class sizes are determined, including how staff are assigned to individual schools and how students’ varying needs are considered.Board member Ali Muldrow expressed a desire for more data about how class sizes correlate with academic achievement, noting she’d like to have the discussion in a “less superficial” way.“I do often wish when we were having this conversation, we were having it in a really strategic, meaningful way in terms of where we’re seeing the best academic performances from our students,” Muldrow said.Administrators told board members they are considering bringing more supplementary reports in the spring, including one that outlines other kinds of student support staff. The process for determining staff levels and class sizes for next school year is already underway.</div></body>

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The Cap Times is an independent newsroom serving Madison and Wisconsin. Sign up for the Morning Update to receive news in your inbox each morning. While the majority of classes in Madison public schools are within target class size ranges this fall, classes for early elementary school grades are smaller on average and more elementary classrooms are falling below the district’s minimum goal.

More Madison elementary school classes have fewer students this year

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The Cap Times is an independent newsroom serving Madison and Wisconsin. Sign up for the Morning Update to receive news in your inbox each morning. While th

More Madison elementary school classes have fewer students this year

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