Creating balanced classes that meet the needs of all students is a difficult endeavor. This process involves hours of thoughtful dialogue between classroom teachers, administrators and other staff members. We know that creating a strong learning environment is essential to students’ success and we therefore take this responsibility seriously. Please be assured that we take each child into consideration. Please see our process below.
· Teachers identify the social and academic needs of each student. They refer to existing data and record pertinent information to assist them in their decision-making.
· Teachers meet as grade level teams to form class lists that are balanced. Balanced classrooms meet each student’s academic, social and emotional needs. Teachers consider each child’s personality, academic strengths, needs and friendships. Learning specialists, the specials team and administration also collaborate with classroom teachers to provide feedback.
· Each grade level team submits a draft of class lists. I review final lists to ensure all parent input has been considered. Classroom teachers approve any changes I suggest given parent feedback to ensure classes remain balanced.
· Class lists are finalized in mid July to reflect the addition of students joining Gold Rush in the summer.
This process is consistent across grades K-4. Our 5th grade team collaborates with the teachers at Cimarron Middle School to ensure students’ success in 6
th
grade.
We strongly believe that this detailed and collaborative process creates learning environments that benefit all students. Please remember that our ultimate goal is to create classes that promote the success of each child. Please also know that your child is placed in a classroom for specific reasons and that our process benefits all students. Because of the input and thought given by teachers, parents and administrators, we are reluctant to make changes once this process is complete. It may be hard to believe, but moving one child can disrupt the balance of an entire classroom.
We do value parent input and welcome any insight you wish to share about your child’s strengths, needs and learning style. We will take into consideration all pertinent information that you share with me on or before Friday, April 26th. While we welcome your input,
we cannot honor specific teacher requests
. Please put your thoughts in writing and address them to me (Jenny Brown). I will accept either a letter or email (jjbrown@dcsdk12.org).
I cannot express enough how important it is that your thoughts are in writing. As you can imagine, I receive a great deal of parent input and verbal information is difficult to track. I also prefer that you direct this communication to me, as I am ultimately responsible for reviewing final class lists in July when teachers may not be available.
