restorenewtonkaides.com
We are dismayed by the proposed cuts in kindergarten aides in the 2023-24 school year. Full-time aides are essential to the smooth running of a kindergarten classroom. Having an aide present at all times allows the lead teacher to focus on academic instruction and to better assess the social-emotional learning needs of individual children. Frequent interruptions may require the use of non-kindergarten aides and support staff in the school, creating gaps in coverage in the higher grades.
We urge NPS to prioritize human contact in this first year of our children's educational experience. The city of Newton made a commitment to NPS kindergarten teachers in 2019, when they instituted full-day kindergarten with the agreement that teachers be supported by full-time aides. The reason that we have excellent kindergarten teachers in Newton is because of the current level of support they receive. We do not want to lose them to neighboring districts, such as Brookline, Needham, Watertown, and Weston, which are continuing to offer full-time aides in each classroom.
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