Please note that Oakwood Elementary does not provide a teacher request form, and our teachers are instructed not to promise parents specific placements with particular teachers. Student assignments are based on balancing class sizes, assessment data, behavior, and special services. The placement process is a collaborative effort involving school administration, student support team members, and grade-level teachers (both current and future) to ensure the best fit for each student.
We consider placing the students after a thorough review of several key data points.
Decision Process:
Once the data is gathered, current grade teachers carefully consider it, place students for the upcoming year, and make notes for next year’s teachers. The principal, literacy coach, psychologist, social workers, and special education teachers also review and amend placements as needed. Teachers receiving the students next school year review the placements and discuss any questions or concerns before the list is finalized and entered into Discovery.
Students identified as gifted will be placed in a cluster with a teacher who has a gifted endorsement. Students with English language learning needs will be placed in a class with an ESL-endorsed teacher.
Balancing class loads is a consideration that goes beyond simply looking at the number of students in a class. Smaller classes with chronic behavior challenges, acute academic needs, and other intense requirements may demand more of a teacher than a larger class with fewer challenges.
New Students:
When a new student enrolls after students have been initially placed, and little may be known about the student, they will usually be placed in the class with the fewest students. If possible, the principal and teacher should be alerted a day before the student comes to class so that any necessary exceptions to this process can be made. Every effort should be made to welcome new students, even when class size is a concern.
Additionally, we offer a Chinese Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program at Oakwood. If you’re interested in enrolling your child in this program, please submit an online application.
Student-teacher assignments will be available in August through the Focus Parent Portal.
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