Please sign a petition for Nayatt to have 4 third grade classrooms & reasonable class sizes for 2022-2023

August 25, 2022

Barrington School Committee

Superintendent Michael Messore

261 Middle Highway

Barrington, RI 02806

Via email: BPS-School-Committee@barringtonschools.org 

Dear Chairwoman Bae, Members of the Barrington School Committee and Superintendent Messore: 

We are deeply concerned about the third-grade class sizes at Nayatt School for the upcoming school year. Historically, there have been at least four classrooms for third-grade students at Nayatt. This year a decision was made to eliminate one classroom even though enrollment for this year’s third graders remains consistent with prior years. With 76 third graders at Nayatt this year there will be two classrooms of 25 students and one classroom of 26 students. Last year, as second graders, the same number of students was divided between four classrooms with 19 students per classroom.  

It is well documented that class size is an important determinant in student outcomes, with smaller class sizes leading to increases in student achievement. Large classroom sizes should be of greater concern for this cohort because they have not at any time in their young academic careers had a normal year in a classroom. The 2022-2023 school year will be an especially critical year for these students as they attempt to recover from both academic and social-emotional learning losses. With classroom sizes of 25 students or greater, these students will not adequately recover from the academic challenges they have endured since kindergarten.  

In addition, our teachers should not be required to manage larger than normal classrooms this year after the last two years of challenging classroom environments. Teachers across the country, including right here in Barrington, are calling out the challenging emotional and developmental impacts of Covid that they are triaging in their classrooms. This in turn takes away from important academic learning opportunities. It is a disservice to the students and talented teachers of Nayatt School to fail to recognize that this is a moment that requires greater individual attention, not less. 

Barrington Schools’ strategic plan begins with a commitment to empower all students to exceland to do so by making student-centered decisions. We do not believe that the elimination of aclassroom for this many children is student-centered. We respectfully request the addition of one third grade classroom at Nayatt School for the 2022-2023 school year so that these students may fulfill their academic potential.  

Group of 3rd grade parents at Nayatt    Contact the author of the petition