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| Leona with staff and students at Madoc Public School. |
Almost 90% of primary classes now have 20 or fewer students
BELLEVILLE — Students in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 3 are receiving more individual attention from their teachers, Leona Dombrowsky MPP said today. Almost 90 per cent of primary classes in area schools have 20 or fewer students and nearly all classes have 23 or fewer.
“Our education investments are working, and thanks to them, we are seeing positive results for our students in classrooms across Prince Edward-Hastings,” said Dombrowsky. “I want to thank parents, teachers, students, school administrators, support staff and all educators who have partnered with us to make this positive impact in our local elementary schools.”
The McGuinty government has boosted annual funding to the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board by $3.2 million to support the hiring of 41 teachers to significantly reduce the size of Junior Kindergarten to Grade 3 classes. The government has invested an additional $2.3 million to assist the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board with the hiring of 28 teachers.
As a result of these investments, the percentage of primary classes with 23 or fewer students at the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board has increased from 67 per cent in 2003-04 to 100 per cent in 2007-08. The percentage of primary classes with 20 or fewer students has jumped from 30 per cent in 2003-04 to 90 per cent in 2007-08.
The percentage of primary classes with 23 or fewer students at the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board has climbed from 65 per cent in 2003-04 to 100 per cent in 2007-08. The percentage of primary classes with 20 or fewer students has increased from 40 per cent in 2003-04 to 88 per cent in 2007-08.
“Students in smaller classes receive more attention and have greater success in the early grades,” said Carl Pitman, Chair of the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board. “Smaller class size combined with improved teaching of literacy and math makes it much more likely that students will graduate and reach their full potential.”
Parents can track primary class sizes at their local school using the Ministry of Education’s updated Class Size Tracker online at www.edu.gov.on.ca
