An Analysis of Windham Schools - Appendix A

Measuring Student Capacities

State Standards vs. "Theoretical Student  Capacities based solely on size"

This Appendix to Part 1 of our Analysis of Windham Schools compares the School Board's methodology for measuring school capacities, and explains why recent capacity numbers are under reported by 742 students due to non-conformance to State Standards.

Up to 2009, it appears the School Board adhered to NH Department of Education Standards for measuring our classroom capacities.  Then in 2011, the School Board altered its methodology and began to use a theoretical formula that produced what they refer to as "Theoretical Student Capacities Based solely on size". The Matrix below shows the different results of these methods.  As you can see in this link, the reported capacities differ greatly -- by 742 students.

The 2009 figures appear to adhere to  State Standards ED 321.08 (b), 321.02 (f and g) and 321.10 (g, h and i), which are used to determine the educational capacities of schools.

Ed 321.08 (b)  The educational capacity of a school building shall be based upon the physical dimensions of the educational spaces.  Educational capacity shall not be reduced by applying a limit to the number of students in a class even though district policy may establish maximum class sizes.

Ed 321.02 (f)  "Educational capacity of a school building" means the sum of the maximum number of students that can be simultaneously instructed in every educational space of the building using the minimum space allocations specified in Ed 321.10.

ED 321.02 (g)  "Educational space" means those parts of a school building to which pupils are assigned for instructional purposes.

Ed 321.10 (g) A kindergarten classroom shall provide at least 1,000 square feet, including storage, or 50 square feet per child, whichever is greater.

Ed 321.10 (h)  For the elementary, middle and junior high schools, a general purpose classroom shall provide a minimum of 900 square feet, including storage, or 36 square feet per child, whichever is greater.

Ed 321.10 (i)  For high schools, a general purpose classroom shall contain a minimum of 800 square feet, including storage, or 32 square feet per student, whichever is greater.

The 2011 figures in the matrix above were based on the School Board's "theoretical" formula that incorporates each school building's gross square footage -- which includes parts of the buildings that are not "assigned for instructional purposes."  This is not in compliance with the State Standards for measuring educational capacities.

The NH DOE standards also define the School Board's authority to establish policies for class sizes, e.g. maximum number of students in a class... but prohibits these policies from being used when determining educational capacities.

Ed 321.08 (b)  The educational capacity of a school building shall be based upon the physical dimensions of the educational spaces.  Educational capacity shall not be reduced by applying a limit to the number of students in a class even though district policy may establish maximum class sizes.

Ed 321.08 (c)  The definition of educational capacity in Ed 321.02(f) and the provisions of Ed 321.08 shall not preclude districts from establishing local policies concerning the maximum number of students in a particular class provided, however, that such policies shall not be taken into account when determining the educational capacity of a school building.

Based upon the NH DOE Standards above, the computations from 2009 (and earlier) should be used to accurately represent our student capacities, along with the added capacities from the kindergarten, portables and High School.  This is discussed further in Part 1 of this series.

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