Bottleneck Solution #2

Para leer la versión en español, haz clic aqui.

So the first solution to the Bottleneck Problem is to relieve some of the pressure by hiring an additional teacher so that no one student will spend more than one year in a combination class. A disadvantage to this solution is that hiring an additional teacher is an additional expense.

The second solution is more economical, and in the long term, eliminates the structural bottleneck. Instead of starting with 2 Kindergarten classes with a total of 48 students, the DLI program adds a third Kindergarten class with a total of 72 students. As these 3 classes of 24 students matriculate through 3rd grade, there would be 2 classes of 4th, 5th, and 6th grades with 33 students each. The bottleneck would be much wider, going from 72 to 66 students.  This would allow for a healthy attrition rate of only 8%.

Grade						Total
6th		33		33		66
5th		33		33		66
4th		33		33		66
3rd	24		24		24	72
2nd	24		24		24	72
1st	24		24		24	72
K	24		24		24	72

In addition, expanding the DLI program at Washington would create a stronger and more sustainable program as these students continue through middle and high school.

How are our students doing in Middle and High School?

Click here to find out.

Bottleneck Solution #1

Para leer la versión en español, haz clic aqui.

To review, here is what classes would look like in 2016-2017, assuming that no one leaves during the summer and the attrition rate is 0%.  

	6th graders	5th graders	4th graders	3rd graders	Class Size
5/6 combo	28	5			33
5th		33			33
4/5 combo		3	30		33
3/4 combo			14	10	24
3rd				24	24
2/3 combo???				11	???
Total	28	41	44	45	147

As you can see, the bottleneck forces combination classes throughout the program. Without raising class sizes in grades K-3 above 24 students, there would not be enough spaces for the students currently in the program.  

Even when you adjust the table for students that leave the program (families moving outside of the district or choosing charter schools), a minimum of 14 students would have to leave in order to relieve the pressure. Class sizes would STILL be at the absolute maximum of 33 students in grades 4-6.  The program is literally busting at the seams.

One solution is to add an FTE (Full Time Employee, meaning a teacher) to relieve the pressure building up in the bottleneck. There would still be a combination class, but only one. Here is what classes would look like:

2016-2017	6th graders	5th graders	4th graders	Class Size
6th	28			28
5th		28		28
4/5 combo		13	13	26
4th			31	31
Total	28	41	44	113

Class sizes are smaller, but not too small. If necessary, other Spanish-speaking students could be recruited to enter the program in order to boost class sizes.

What is the disadvantage to this solution? There is still a combination class, but students would not have to experience CONSECUTIVE COMBINATION CLASSES as they do now. There is obviously an additional financial expense with the additional teacher. 

Are there other solutions? Always! Click here to see Bottleneck Solution #2.

The DLI Bottleneck = Consecutive Years of Combination Classes

(Para la version en español, haz clic aqui.)

The Washington DLI program has a bottleneck problem as it is currently structured, resulting in 2, maybe 3 consecutive years of combination classes for our students. Here's some facts to know to better understand this problem:

1) For grades K-3, class sizes are currently at 24 students.

2) For grades 4-6, class sizes are at 33 students.

3) The Attrition Rate is the percentage of students who leave the program. If no one leaves, the Attrition Rate is 0%.

4) A teacher is considered a "Full Time Employee" (FTE). The Washington DLI program has 11 FTEs.  There are 2 teachers at each grade level from Kindergarten through 3rd grade. There is only 1 teacher at each grade from 4th - 6th grade.

Now let's assume that all of those 48 Kindergarten students continue through 4th grade, and let's also assume that the Attrition Rate is 0%. That means that there is only space for one full 4th grade class of 33 students. What happens to the other 15 students? What about the other students in grades 5 and 6? They would be squeezed out of the program unless there were 2 additional FTEs, probably a 4/5 combination class with 23 students and a 5/6 combination class with 22.

Over the last several years, the Attrition Rate has been much higher than 0%, and students have not had to experience this "Bottleneck Problem".  Until now.

The following table shows the actual DLI enrollment and class configuration for the 2015-2016 school year.

	6th graders	5th graders	4th graders	Class Size
5/6 combo	24	7		31
4/5 combo		21	8	29
4th			33	33
Total	24	28	41	93

This means that every 5th grader is guaranteed to be in a combination class for two consecutive years, either in the 4/5 class and then in the 5/6 class, or 2 years in the same 5/6 class. Those 8 4th graders in the 4/5 class class will be in combination classes for 3 consecutive years!  Yes, COMBINATION CLASSES FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS! The question is, does this have a positive or negative impact on student learning?

Now, let's assume that the Attrition Rate is 0%, and no one leaves the program next year. Everyone comes back in the Fall. What would classes look like for 2016-2017?

 

	6th graders	5th graders	4th graders	3rd graders	Class Size
5/6 combo	28	5			33
5th		33			33
4/5 combo		3	30		33
3/4 combo			14	10	24
3rd				24	24
2/3 combo???				11	???
Total	28	41	44	45	147

The Bottleneck would impact the entire program, creating combination classes throughout the DLI program until students would be displaced or asked to leave. While it is unlikely that the Attrition Rate will be 0%, there is no plan to deal with relieving the bottleneck at the moment.  

The game plan is to hope that enough students leave the program.  The current structure is unsustainable.

What are some solutions?

More to come in the next post.

Bienvenidos/Welcome

El propósito de este blog es proveer información importante que pertenece al programa bilingüe de doble inmersión en la Escuela Washington para que sea una escuela aún mejor de lo que ya es.

Para leer este blog en ingles, por favor sigue a www.washingtondobleinmersion.blogspot.com

Tambien, buscanos en nuestra página en Facebook "Washington DLI".

Gracias por su interés en mejorar este programa especial para nuestros hijos.

=======================================================
The purpose of this blog is to share important information and resources pertaining to the Dual Language Immersion Program at Washington Elementary so that it can be an even better school than it already is.

In order to read this blog in English, please go to www.washingtondli.blogspot.com

Also, look for us on our Facebook page "Washington DLI".

Thank you for your interest in improving this special program for our children.