EPS by the numbers: Total staffing
EPS by the numbers: Total staffing
(2006-07 data)
| (based on 06-07 enrollment of 132,338 K-8 & 61,648 HS pupils)
|
under EPS ratio |
actually employed |
surplus |
| Teachers |
11,894 |
16,826 |
4,932 |
| Teaching assistants |
1,570 |
6,544 |
4,974 |
| Administrators |
630 |
1,659 |
1,029 |
| Clerical staff |
970 |
2,371 |
1,401 |
| Media assistants, nurses, counseling, guidance, librarians, instructional coordinators, student and support staff |
1,498 |
9,385 |
7,887 |
| Total: |
16,562 |
36,785 |
20,223 |
***
Source for EPS ratios:
Essential Programs and Services: The Basis for a New Approach for Funding Maine’s Public Schools, David L. Silvernail & Weston L. Bonney, Maine Policy Review, Winter 2001
Source for student and staff numbers:
Public Elementary and Secondary School Student Enrollment and Staff From the Common Core of Data: School Year 2006–07, NCES
- By Brian Hubbell at 02/20/2009 - 08:37
- State
|
EPS Ratios
I found them in this report:
Essential Programs and Services: The Basis for a New Approach for Funding Maine’s Public Schools, David L. Silvernail & Weston L. Bonney, Maine Policy Review, Winter 2001
Does anyone have idea of the "ideal" staffing ratios and other ratios such as number of students under EPS? I remember hearing once that it was suggested that here would be one librarian for every 200 students for example. Also how many students per teacher etc. I just wonder how far off the assumptions of EPS in terms of actual classrooms and schools in rural areas are.
Thanks!
EPS ratios
George, that's more or less what the table above shows. Clearly it also shows the statistical problem of aggregating fractions of staff -- e.g adding six-tenths of a teaching position ten times and concluding that 10 positions can be staffed by six bodies.
Here are the EPS ratios according to the linked EPS report
EPS: Staffing By the Numbers
The EPS formula is supposed to provide a base, not a ceiling, so it's important to remember that "surplus" is a relative term.
Beyond that, there are many underlying fallacies to the EPS formula, but two of the major ones to my way of thinking are:
1. It does not account for art, music, foreign languages, physical education, etc. All of those teachers are "extra".
2. As Brian said, it does not account for the difficulty of filling ".2" or ".8" positions. A half-time librarian allowed under the formula will typically be filled with a full-time person because it's darned hard to find someone to work less.
If you take a look at the ED 279 which your superintendent's office would have received recently, you can see how the ratios play out in your school system.
Also, adding percentages to the above chart makes it more clear how really out of sync the EPS formula is.
Education Commitee on EPS
This coming Monday afternoon, the Education Committee is scheduled to hear about EPS. Here's the item from their schedule:
Monday, February 23, 2009
2:00 p.m. –
MEPRI research plan to evaluate EPS funding formula and GPA distribution under EPS Funding Act
EPS Ratios with Percentages
EPS by the numbers: Total staffing
(2006-07 data)
*Media assistants, nurses, counseling, guidance, librarians, instructional coordinators, student and support staff