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PreK class sizes

  • 1.  PreK class sizes

    Posted 05-14-2021 02:00 PM
    I'm curious, are Pre-K class sizes determined by State laws or local laws?
    Could anyone here please send me your local class size law?
    When I taught in TN it was 20 max, but I'm hearing some classes are larger.
    Thanks in advance for sharing!

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    Jessica Farmer
    Pre-K Content Lead
    QuaverEd
    Nashville TN
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  • 2.  RE: PreK class sizes

    Posted 05-15-2021 03:16 AM
    Hi Jessica,
    class size is generally determined by square footage of the classroom space.  So many children are permitted per square foot of the room.
    Group sizes and ratios of number of adults:children is determined by state regulation and licensure.  For example, in VT we can have 4 babies for every teacher, 5 toddlers per every teacher, and 10 preschoolers per every teacher.  We can have mixed age groups but must then determine the teacher student ratio by the youngest group represented.  If we have 5 preschoolers, we'd need only one teacher with that group.  If, however, we add one toddler, we'd then need to have two teachers.  Hope this answers your question!
    Amy McLellan
    Program Director
    Watch Them Grow Childcare
    Bradford, VT

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    Amy Mclellan
    Director
    Watch Them Grow Childcare
    Bradford VT
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  • 3.  RE: PreK class sizes

    Posted 05-15-2021 05:34 AM
    Hello Jessica,
    I am Jackie and I teach a class of pre-schoolers here in Upstate NY.
    In our center we have, also, a Universal Pre-K, currently it has 16 children enrolled but I have seen it with 21 children as well.
    In NY State the ratio is Infants 4-1
    Toddlers 5-1
    Preschoolers 7-1
    Pre-K 8-1
    children can only be combined at the beginning or at the end of the day and the ratio applied is the one of the younger children.
    Babies can NEVER combine!
    Have a good weekend,
    Jackie

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    Jacqueline Frig Sankowski
    Lead teacher
    Mendon Child Care Center
    Mendon NY
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  • 4.  RE: PreK class sizes

    Posted 05-15-2021 08:07 PM
    In Indiana they're determined by the state I believe. For age 4 it's one adult to 12 children. 





  • 5.  RE: PreK class sizes

    Posted 05-16-2021 12:08 AM
    Hi Jessica,
    In Florida with have "Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten," which everyone calls VPK. It is state funded (3 hours per day), and the state sets the class size. If parents want more than three hours school/preschool/home childcare can ask parents to pay for the extra hours.

    One teacher (with state credentials received through trainings/classes or a degree in early childhood education, can have 11 students with no assistant teacher. Otherwise the ratio is 20 students with teacher and assistant teacher. In years past I heard it could be 21 max, but really I usually see class sizes stopped at 20. So to be honest, I'm not sure if it is 20 or 21 with assistant teacher.

    Karen Miller 
    Head Start/VPK (PreK)

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    Karen Miller
    Head Start/Pre-K Teacher
    R. B. Cox Elementary
    San Antonio FL
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  • 6.  RE: PreK class sizes

    Posted 05-17-2021 07:00 AM
    In Vermont we have maximum group sizes per our state regulations for Center Based Child Care Programs and Preschool Programs.
    Birth-18 mos. =8
    18-30 months = 10
    24-36 months=10
    32-42 months=15
    36 months-Kindergarten =20

    Joanna Houston
    Director
    Y Early Childhood Program for UVM Medical Center
    Winooski, Vermont


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    Joanna Houston
    Y Early Childhood Pgm @ FAHC
    Burlington VT
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  • 7.  RE: PreK class sizes

    Posted 05-17-2021 07:32 AM
    Hi Joanna,
    Can you tell me where in the VT regs it states that ratios for 18-30 months can be in a group size of 10?  I thought it was not until a child turns 24 months can they be included in this group.
    Thank you!
    Amy McLellan
    Program Director
    Watch Them Grow Bradford
    802-222-4912







  • 8.  RE: PreK class sizes

    Posted 05-20-2021 02:25 PM
    Hi, Amy:

    It's regulation 6.2.1.3, page 85 in the current regs.  The group size raises to 10 but the ratio remains 1:4 until 24 months.

    -Ann

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    Ann Linge
    Early Learning Center Program Coordinator
    The Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development
    Brattleboro, VT
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  • 9.  RE: PreK class sizes

    Posted 05-17-2021 09:43 AM
    Our ratios in Louisiana are determined by the state DOE for licensed programs, but there is a gray area about what is termed "Pre-K." Often Private and Parochial schools include three- or four-year old programs as a part of their "big school," so they are considered part of the Elementary or Lower School and are therefore not monitored by the state.  In our case, our early childhood division, which runs from 8 weeks through 4 (our "three year old" class), falls under Licensing, but Pre-k (where children must be 4 by 8/31) is our school entry point, so it falls under our Lower School and is not subject to the same rules.

    Our LA Licensing guidelines (which clearly are not optimal numbers) are as follows:
    Infants <1 - 5:1
    1 year olds - 7:1
    2 year olds - 11:1
    3 year olds - 13:1
    4 year olds - 15:1
    5 year olds - 19:1

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    Holly Dalferes
    Director
    George Cottage at St Martin's Episcopal School
    Metairie LA
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  • 10.  RE: PreK class sizes

    Posted 05-18-2021 11:10 AM
    Hi Jessica,
    In CT group size is determined by our licensing regulations.  I pulled out that section for you- hope it helps!
    Karen

    The operator shall maintain a staff adequate for the number, ages and developmental needs of the children to be accommodated. (1) A designated head teacher shall be on site for sixty percent (60%) of the time the child day care center or group day care home is in operation on a weekly basis. (2) There shall be at least two (2) staff eighteen (18) years of age or older on the premises when one (1) or more children are in attendance. The staff shall be available to care for the children. (3) All staff in the child day care center and group day care home shall have the personal qualities necessary to: (A) care for and work with children, (B) relate to adults, and (C) relate to the parent(s). (4) Proper staff child ratios shall be maintained at all times. (A) There shall be at least one (1) program staff person for every ten (10) children, or fraction thereof in attendance. (B) When there is a mixed age group, the lower required ratio for the age of the youngest child shall prevail. (C) When children are participating in swimming or wading as part of the program, whether at the facility or on a field trip, the following staff child ratios, at a minimum, shall be maintained at all times with the children: (i) all non-swimmers shall be clearly identified as non-swimmers in a way that is visually and easily recognized by lifeguards and staff; (ii) for infants twelve (12) months of age and younger, there shall be at least one (1) program staff person with every child who is in direct physical contact with the child; (iii) for toddlers under three (3) years of age, there shall be at least one (1) program staff member with every two (2) children; (iv) for preschool children (three (3) years to five (5) years of age) there shall be at least one (1) program staff member with every four (4) children; and (v) for school-age children there shall be at least one (1) program staff member with every six (6) children. (D) The operator shall be responsible for assuring the supervision of the children at all times while the children are at the facility, indoors or outdoors, or on field trips. At no time shall a child be left unsupervised. (5) Group size shall be maintained at all times. (A) The group size shall not exceed twenty children. (B) When there is a mixed age group, the smaller required group size shall prevail. (6) During nap time, when all of the children in the group are sleeping, the overall staff child ratios shall be maintained on the licensed premises. At no time shall a group of children be left unsupervised

    19a-79-10. Under three endorsement (a) The operator of a program caring for children under three (3) years of age shall comply with section 19a-79-1a to section 19a-79-10, inclusive, and section 19a-79-13 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. (b) A program caring for children under three (3) years of age is required to have a separate endorsement by the department. (c) Infants and toddlers (1) Age. Children from six (6) weeks to thirty six (36) months of age shall be considered infants and toddlers. (2) Ratio. There shall be at least one (1) program staff qualified under section 19a-79-4a(d) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies for every four (4) children or fraction thereof in attendance. (3) Group size. The group size shall not exceed eight (8) children. (4) There shall be a physical barrier separating each group of eight (8) children, indoors and outdoors.



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    Karen Rainville
    Executive Director
    CT Association for the Education of Young Children
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  • 11.  RE: PreK class sizes

    Posted 05-19-2021 10:41 AM
    I am wondering if you are asking about the ratio and sizes in different types of programs. In many states early care and education programs that are not located in elementary schools are regulated by a statewide agency. These would include private centers (non profit, for profit, HeadStart) and family child care homes in most states. Depending on the state, preschool programs in private elementary schools may or may not be regulated under this state agency.
    Preschool programs in public elementary schools come under the umbrella of a different state agency (often called The Department of Education) that "regulates" public elementary and secondary schools. I don't think this agency usually regulates class sizes leaving that decision up to the local school department.

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    Margery Heyl
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