KPBS Public Media

Jennifer Stanchak is an education specialist at Bird Rock Elementary School. She works with students with mild to moderate disabilities. They’re in general education classrooms but need extra support for reading, writing or behavioral challenges. Last year, she said, she had 35 students. That’s 15 more than the caseload limit the district and teachers union agreed on. “We can’t support our students when we are over caseload year after year,” Stanchak said. “It means less support for our students. It means less time that we have to work with our families.”