School closures/delays?

Joshua Ortiz2 said:But what happens if some kid with actual talent grows up in a tiny little town that only has one single elementary school? Are they seriously expected to just pack up and move to a bigger city like Chicago or something just to get a decent education? 😁

Man, this is the first time I’ve even heard anyone bring that up...

Probably not.🤣

Some schools in places like Chicago or Seattle have specific programs for gifted students, so teachers usually know how to steer them toward the right resources—like schools that offer more foreign languages or extra-curricular activities.
But this is the first I've heard about people picking schools just because the enrollment process gets so hectic. 😲

I'm guessing she meant those born right on the border. Look, you might be talented, but we're backed up, and based on your age, you can wait another year.

So, do gifted kids actually get their own custom curriculum at school just tailored specifically for them?

Robert Rodriguez9 said:I'm guessing she meant those born right on the border. Look, you might be talented, but we're backed up, and based on your age, you can wait another year.

That’s how I saw it too. It’s the ones who aren't technically required to be in school yet, but the parents are pushing for them to start a year early because they're just little geniuses.

Joshua Ortiz2 said:So, do gifted kids actually get their own custom curriculum at school just tailored specifically for them?

Unfortunately, they don't actually have a custom-built academic track designed solely for them, because for that to work, you would need entirely separate classrooms, which just isn't feasible within our current American public school system.

The schools that offer programs for gifted kids usually handle it through extracurricular activities, after-school clubs, and similar enrichment opportunities. On top of that, these institutions often employ staff who are specifically trained to work with high-ability children, so you find these incredibly passionate teachers who go above and beyond the standard requirements during regular class hours to give those students a bit more of a push.

My own child attends one of these schools, and while there is a massive rush of parents trying to get in every year, it’s a consistent trend, so waiting around wouldn't really change the outcome. Any "overflow" of students simply enrolls in the local neighborhood school, which, if you ask me, is a much more sensible way to manage things.

Robert Rodriguez9 said:Just wanted to add that even gifted kids can get bumped to a later start if enrollment gets too crowded—at least, that’s what one child psychologist told me.

Is it just me, or is everyone in New York City dealing with crazy overcrowding at specific schools right now, or is it basically everywhere across the country?

Seattle is actually the complete opposite; the number of kids has basically been cut in half, yet the number of classrooms hasn't budged because the school districts aren't letting teachers go.
The average class size over in Seattle is only about 15 kids 😁

I was reading this recent feature story in the Seattle Times about first graders, and my little guy's class was completely left out of the coverage because they have a whopping 28 students 😁
(And the reason it's so packed is because there are two different first-grade tracks—his is a full-day program, while the other group only stays for a few hours before heading home, so all those kids end up crammed into that one full-day "rush."
I went to the same school growing up, and back then, we had three classes per grade with about 30 kids in each.))

northerncobra27 said:Unfortunately, they don't actually have a custom-built academic track designed solely for them, because for that to work, you would need entirely separate classrooms, which just isn't feasible within our current American public school system.

The schools that offer programs for gifted kids usually handle it through extracurricular activities, after-school clubs, and similar enrichment opportunities. On top of that, these institutions often employ staff who are specifically trained to work with high-ability children, so you find these incredibly passionate teachers who go above and beyond the standard requirements during regular class hours to give those students a bit more of a push.

My own child attends one of these schools, and while there is a massive rush of parents trying to get in every year, it’s a consistent trend, so waiting around wouldn't really change the outcome. Any "overflow" of students simply enrolls in the local neighborhood school, which, if you ask me, is a much more sensible way to manage things.

But shouldn't every single school be offering this kind of thing? Like, having those extra activities available for any kid who wants them, can handle them, or just really needs them?
I mean, we’re talking about things like competition prep, small project groups, and all that good stuff, right?

Looking back at my own experience, I went to two different elementary schools in Seattle, and both of them had these programs in place—honestly, pretty much every school I've ever come across seems to have them. 🤷

Karen Richardson3 said:Is it just me, or is everyone in New York City dealing with crazy overcrowding at specific schools right now, or is it basically everywhere across the country?

Seattle is actually the complete opposite; the number of kids has basically been cut in half, yet the number of classrooms hasn't budged because the school districts aren't letting teachers go.
The average class size over in Seattle is only about 15 kids 😁

I was reading this recent feature story in the Seattle Times about first graders, and my little guy's class was completely left out of the coverage because they have a whopping 28 students 😁
(And the reason it's so packed is because there are two different first-grade tracks—his is a full-day program, while the other group only stays for a few hours before heading home, so all those kids end up crammed into that one full-day "rush."
I went to the same school growing up, and back then, we had three classes per grade with about 30 kids in each.))

No clue. I’d bet it depends on the school or even the neighborhood—some areas just have more kids than others.

Karen Richardson3 said:Is it just me, or is everyone in New York City dealing with crazy overcrowding at specific schools right now, or is it basically everywhere across the country?

Seattle is actually the complete opposite; the number of kids has basically been cut in half, yet the number of classrooms hasn't budged because the school districts aren't letting teachers go.
The average class size over in Seattle is only about 15 kids 😁

I was reading this recent feature story in the Seattle Times about first graders, and my little guy's class was completely left out of the coverage because they have a whopping 28 students 😁
(And the reason it's so packed is because there are two different first-grade tracks—his is a full-day program, while the other group only stays for a few hours before heading home, so all those kids end up crammed into that one full-day "rush."
I went to the same school growing up, and back then, we had three classes per grade with about 30 kids in each.))

So, I was looking over the educational standards again—you know, those official guidelines that are supposed to make everything run smoothly—and honestly, the math just doesn't add up. According to the rules, you’re supposed to have a minimum of 14 students in a class and a maximum of 28. Plus, there’s this specific rule about integrated students with special needs; basically, if you have a student requiring an individualized program, the total cap for the class is supposed to drop to accommodate them. But then you look at the actual numbers we're dealing with in reality... it's a mess. Like, say you have a group of 28 kids in a grade level, and one of them needs a specialized curriculum. By the book, you're technically supposed to split that entire group into two separate classes. Or, if you have 26 kids and two of them have IEPs, you're suddenly looking at splitting them into two groups of 13. It sounds good on paper, I guess, but trying to balance those ratios when you actually have to manage the classroom? It's a bit of a headache, to be honest. Just one of those things where the policy feels like it's fighting against common sense.

Karen Richardson3 said:But shouldn't every single school be offering this kind of thing? Like, having those extra activities available for any kid who wants them, can handle them, or just really needs them?
I mean, we’re talking about things like competition prep, small project groups, and all that good stuff, right?

Looking back at my own experience, I went to two different elementary schools in Seattle, and both of them had these programs in place—honestly, pretty much every school I've ever come across seems to have them. 🤷

To some extent, yeah, though I suppose it depends entirely on how much a specific school actually implements it. In my oldest child’s school, there wasn't any extra help for the younger grades, and in the higher grades, it was more like those few students heading off to math competitions would get their "supplemental instruction" during regular class hours. Which, honestly, isn't a bad thing. There were a couple of students who even asked their geography teacher if she could lead them to a competition, but she just didn't have the capacity to make it happen 😵... To be perfectly honest, that whole era of my life is something I'm trying to move past as quickly as possible, so the finer details are a bit fuzzy in my mind.
The school my younger child attends is a completely different universe, at least as far as what's possible within our American school system. They offer supplemental tutoring and advanced enrichment starting as early as first or second grade; they have specialized content woven into the regular curriculum for kids who show interest or a specific need—though, of course, that might depend heavily on the individual teacher—as well as those extra programs that every school ought to provide. Plus, they have a dedicated specialist team that identifies the unique challenges faced by gifted students, which is definitely a crucial part of the whole equation.

Karen Richardson3 said:Is it just me, or is everyone in New York City dealing with crazy overcrowding at specific schools right now, or is it basically everywhere across the country?

Seattle is actually the complete opposite; the number of kids has basically been cut in half, yet the number of classrooms hasn't budged because the school districts aren't letting teachers go.
The average class size over in Seattle is only about 15 kids 😁

I was reading this recent feature story in the Seattle Times about first graders, and my little guy's class was completely left out of the coverage because they have a whopping 28 students 😁
(And the reason it's so packed is because there are two different first-grade tracks—his is a full-day program, while the other group only stays for a few hours before heading home, so all those kids end up crammed into that one full-day "rush."
I went to the same school growing up, and back then, we had three classes per grade with about 30 kids in each.))

Man, things have changed so much around here. This year at my school, we’ve only got like 17 kids per class. It feels empty. Back when I was starting out at this same school, it was a totally different story—we had nearly 30 students in every single classroom, and they actually had four separate sections running. I ended up getting stuck in that last one, Section D. Total chaos compared to now.😁

Karen Richardson3 said:Is it just me, or is everyone in New York City dealing with crazy overcrowding at specific schools right now, or is it basically everywhere across the country?

Seattle is actually the complete opposite; the number of kids has basically been cut in half, yet the number of classrooms hasn't budged because the school districts aren't letting teachers go.
The average class size over in Seattle is only about 15 kids 😁

I was reading this recent feature story in the Seattle Times about first graders, and my little guy's class was completely left out of the coverage because they have a whopping 28 students 😁
(And the reason it's so packed is because there are two different first-grade tracks—his is a full-day program, while the other group only stays for a few hours before heading home, so all those kids end up crammed into that one full-day "rush."
I went to the same school growing up, and back then, we had three classes per grade with about 30 kids in each.))

I guess I have to wonder if that’s just a random hunch you've got going on, or if you actually have some hard data to back up that claim?🙂

It’s funny, because on one hand, everyone is constantly clamoring for smaller class sizes, arguing that it would somehow magically elevate the quality of education for everyone involved, but then—when the freaking National Association of Educators finally pushes for those higher standards and we might actually see some real benefits from it—suddenly people start implying it's all just an excuse because schools are too stubborn to lay off staff.🙂

Man, I swear, this crowd in America can never seem to find anything to be happy about, no matter what happens.🙏

Our entire American school system is honestly way more advanced than what this ungrateful public deserves.☕

The school in my town—where my kids go—has been seeing shrinking class sizes for a few years now. We’re hovering around 14 students per room, plus maybe one or two kids needing extra support. Of course, the administration acts like they're just trying not to cut staff, but if you ask me? It’s a massive win for the kids, the parents, and the teachers alike. I don't think it's always about layoffs, either; people retire, things shift—it's just easier for everyone when the groups are smaller. If only every school in America had classes of 14... wouldn't that be something?

urbantinker8 said:I guess I have to wonder if that’s just a random hunch you've got going on, or if you actually have some hard data to back up that claim?🙂

It’s funny, because on one hand, everyone is constantly clamoring for smaller class sizes, arguing that it would somehow magically elevate the quality of education for everyone involved, but then—when the freaking National Association of Educators finally pushes for those higher standards and we might actually see some real benefits from it—suddenly people start implying it's all just an excuse because schools are too stubborn to lay off staff.🙂

Man, I swear, this crowd in America can never seem to find anything to be happy about, no matter what happens.🙏

Our entire American school system is honestly way more advanced than what this ungrateful public deserves.☕

Well, whenever my friends and colleagues who work in schools chat about this, it’s always the main reason brought up (even though they’d probably swear otherwise if they were posting online 😁). If I had used a smiley face, maybe it would've been clearer that I’m obviously not making this claim based on some formal survey of school principals.

But seriously, I think the real driver behind those classes having only 15 students in Cleveland is something much bigger than schools just trying to meet certain educational benchmarks.

And regardless, what that forum user wrote earlier—that class sizes are being capped specifically because of students with special needs—just isn't true. I don't want to waste my breath here, especially since back when we were dealing with 30+ kids per room, we still had two students with special needs in there. Even right now, in the outskirts of Cleveland like Arlington and Annapolis, the classes are still huge, whether there are students with special needs present or not.

As for your last point, I truly believe our education, science, culture, healthcare, and politics are an exact reflection of who we are as a people; they couldn't possibly be any different given our national character. 🤣

The only thing I don't get is why you can't just poke a little fun at yourself and your profession. You guys aren't perfect, but you aren't the worst either—I just don't understand why there has to be so much intense drama surrounding the whole career.

Karen Richardson3 said:Well, whenever my friends and colleagues who work in schools chat about this, it’s always the main reason brought up (even though they’d probably swear otherwise if they were posting online 😁). If I had used a smiley face, maybe it would've been clearer that I’m obviously not making this claim based on some formal survey of school principals.

But seriously, I think the real driver behind those classes having only 15 students in Cleveland is something much bigger than schools just trying to meet certain educational benchmarks.

And regardless, what that forum user wrote earlier—that class sizes are being capped specifically because of students with special needs—just isn't true. I don't want to waste my breath here, especially since back when we were dealing with 30+ kids per room, we still had two students with special needs in there. Even right now, in the outskirts of Cleveland like Arlington and Annapolis, the classes are still huge, whether there are students with special needs present or not.

As for your last point, I truly believe our education, science, culture, healthcare, and politics are an exact reflection of who we are as a people; they couldn't possibly be any different given our national character. 🤣

The only thing I don't get is why you can't just poke a little fun at yourself and your profession. You guys aren't perfect, but you aren't the worst either—I just don't understand why there has to be so much intense drama surrounding the whole career.

It's pretty simple: I'm just completely fed up with the constant whining about the education system. ☕
The drama starts from the outside, not from within the faculty lounge, and it has become so exhausting that I don't even have the energy to joke about it anymore, nor do I care to listen to all that nonsense.

And I'll ask you again: how on earth are you supposed to know how many students with IEPs are in each class in Cleveland? 😕
I am constantly checking my own specific classrooms just to make sure I haven't overlooked anyone, so there is no way I could possibly know the numbers for the rest of the schools or classes, or if the total number of students per room has actually decreased in proportion to those with special needs. 🤷

Harold Cook2 said:Man, things have changed so much around here. This year at my school, we’ve only got like 17 kids per class. It feels empty. Back when I was starting out at this same school, it was a totally different story—we had nearly 30 students in every single classroom, and they actually had four separate sections running. I ended up getting stuck in that last one, Section D. Total chaos compared to now.😁

Are you planning on asking for an extension?
I remember you from back when we were both dealing with that whole situation—we actually gave birth just a few days apart... We're definitely going to ask for a delay.

The speech therapist and the psychologist are totally on our side, but the preschool's administration is trying to push us straight into kindergarten. Even though they openly admit the kid has real speech issues (plus concentration problems and general immaturity...) that aren't something to just brush off.
They don't really have a clue what's best for the child; they basically just throw them into the deep end and tell us, "Good luck fighting it out." :/

Anyone else here from San Diego County? I just need to pick someone's brain about something real quick...

Harold Cook2 said:Man, things have changed so much around here. This year at my school, we’ve only got like 17 kids per class. It feels empty. Back when I was starting out at this same school, it was a totally different story—we had nearly 30 students in every single classroom, and they actually had four separate sections running. I ended up getting stuck in that last one, Section D. Total chaos compared to now.😁

Over in my neighborhood, things are looking pretty different...

Two schools just a few blocks apart from each other—both are absolutely packed. They’re running four classes per grade with over 26 students in each one. There isn't even any room for after-school programs; they can only accommodate them for first graders.

Brian Jones8 said:Are you planning on asking for an extension?
I remember you from back when we were both dealing with that whole situation—we actually gave birth just a few days apart... We're definitely going to ask for a delay.

The speech therapist and the psychologist are totally on our side, but the preschool's administration is trying to push us straight into kindergarten. Even though they openly admit the kid has real speech issues (plus concentration problems and general immaturity...) that aren't something to just brush off.
They don't really have a clue what's best for the child; they basically just throw them into the deep end and tell us, "Good luck fighting it out." :/

I totally remember you.🙂
I asked for a deferral too. I mentioned it to the teachers at the preschool last year and they actually agreed with my call to let him have another year to grow—it would mean everything to him. He was tested at the preschool and the psychologist is totally backing my decision, even though his visual-motor maturity scores were actually above average for his age, and he killed it on the logical reasoning and inference tests. But because of his socio-emotional development and the fact that he needs speech therapy (he started stuttering out of nowhere over six months ago), we need that extra year. Right now, things are actually worse than before, which both the speech therapist and the preschool staff confirmed. Nobody knows why it's happening. One minute he was fine, then suddenly it flared up again.
But the school district? They don't care. They think my reasons aren't good enough and they've been giving me such a hard time. Showing them the preschool psychologist's report wasn't enough, so I had to get the speech therapist to write a whole new one, and even *that* wasn't enough. Now they're saying we have to go see a clinical psychologist for an official evaluation. It's insane. They're completely unreasonable.
And the kicker? I know three other moms who asked for a deferral last year or the year before for practically no reason at all, and they got it without any pushback whatsoever.

Looks like we’re all fighting the same battle. We’ve been told we need to see a specialist or a child psychologist just to get a second opinion. ☕But honestly, I already know what they’ll say—that he’s just being immature, even though his speech issues are staring everyone right in the face...
I feel bad if being held back a grade ends up being a bummer for him tomorrow, but I really think this is the lesser of two evils.
Whatever hurdles we're facing now, things should hopefully settle down next year. Fingers crossed... 🕺