Focusing on middle schools in the PK-12 education system, it is essential to note that the standard of staffing requires that workers be allocated independently the scheduling models without impacting class size. Middle schools have core and non-core classes, whereby the former have an enrollment determined by the average of 22 (Byrd, 2017). The core class have such subjects as arts, language, readings, mathematics, science, ESOL, and social studies. Contrary, non-core classes do not have code determined by the class size law. In that case, the head of middle school comprises of one principal and two assistants. The basic support units that include personnel, such as administrative assistance, guidance counselor, paraeducator, and teacher testing educator, have one employee. The number of general education instructors allocated in middle schools depends on such factors as student population, class size, and the number of lessons. Two full-time educators are allowed for teaming and block scheduling and one full time for mathematics.
Traditional middle schools have about a seven-period day; instructors have six teaching sessions and a planning schedule. The allocation excludes special education teachers, school resource officers, or any support staff. A district will allocate enough number of units to satisfy requirements for modified class size law. In middle school, the staffing ration is noted to be 29 students per one instructor (Educational Service Center, n.d.). Minimum staffing number is two educators in a class of about 28 students or less. Whereas maximum staffing is two instructors for more than 28 students. However, the class size law governing school districts requires a class not exceed 33 students.
Middle school support personnel are the backbones of institution function, and they include bus drivers, custodians, security, and food service staff. Paraprofessionals help students during one-on-one groups to master lesson so that they can pass classes. As such, staffing depends on the number of class size and the distributable ratio is 1 staff in 23 students (Virginia Department of Education, 2016). Bus drivers are first school persons that learners see in the morning and the evening during transportation time. Based on school population size, which determines the number of buses needed, each vehicle is assigned to one diver. Custodians help keep school infrastructure intact, repair broken items, and do furnishing work. In a school population of more than two hundred students, there should be two to three custodians.
In middle schools, content standards are available to guide what to expect for teachers and other support staffs. Typically, staffing ratio is supported by guidelines related to outcomes, instructions, and curriculum. Content standards are a vision of how educators should meet expected academic goals and provide a coherent teaching structure. The implication of policies in such areas as mathematics teachings helps inform the way forward in staffing. For instance, by assessing student performance, it is easy to determine the learning process compared to outcomes reflected on student’s report cards. Staffing might affect the learning process, and this impacts the academic outcomes of learners. In case students are not performing well, content standards help trace the root source of the problem and inform the school board on what could be changed.
To conclude, it is vital to note that staffing in PK-12 education can vary from one district to another, and this is governed by student population or class sizes. Maximum performance by teachers in their respective roles is at best when serving the least number of students. Offering the best direction to learners is essential for them to perform well. Hence, assessments and report forms play a significant role for school board to determine if the students are on the right track.
References
Byrd, J. (2017). Staffing plan 2017-2018 school year: The school board of Polk County. Web.
Educational Service Center. (n.d.). Priority standards. Web.
Virginia Department of Education. (2016). Summary of the standards of quality. Web.