Question of the Week

Question of the week

How do you determine the Full Time Equivalent (FTE) for a position? Is it based on the school size (enrollment) or is it granted as a one (1) regardless of school size (enrollment)? And could school librarians, given their expertise and instructional range, be considered to be one (1) FTE regardless of school size? Please talk about the process you use as you revisit standards each year to determine if each is adequate.

The purpose of the staffing standards is to support the mission of ACPS and foster equity across our schools. However, if an individual school wishes to deviate from a particular standard for a reason related to its School Strategic Plan, a waiver process has been established. 

The School Division staffing standards were developed by a committee that included central office and school-based staff. In developing the standards, the committee surveyed school staff on critical issues. Once the committee developed a set of proposed standards, they were then reviewed by the Division’s entire Leadership Team, which includes all school-based and central office administrative staff. 

A staffing standards committee meets quarterly to review sections of the standards based on a five-year review cycle. The committee solicits direct feedback from principals and instructional leaders.  Updates to the standards are implemented at the beginning of each school year, and any changes that require new resources are presented and discussed with the School Board through the annual budgeting process. 

Recent updates that have been made include:

  • Differentiated Staffing Restructure: to clarify and enhance staffing for reducing class size, reading intervention, and other tiered services.
  • Minimum of one full-time Assistant Principal at each school and staffing based on % economically disadvantaged students.
  • Minimum of one half-time (0.5) Art teacher and one half-time (0.5) Music teacher.
  • Minimum of two full-time clerical staff and staffing based on % economically disadvantaged students. 
  • Enhanced SEL Counselor standards.

Answer by Maya Kumazawa, Director of Budget and Planning

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