In Warwick, for many of our elementary schools the school administration is planning to adopting split classrooms where students from different grades are combined into a single classroom under one teacher. This practice might be seen as a solution to budget constraints and student population fluctuations, but it presents considerable challenges to both teachers and students, ultimately impacting the quality of education.

Split classrooms require teachers to divide their attention between two different curriculums and sets of students' needs. This demand complicates lesson planning and reduces the time that teachers can devote to each grade's curriculum, potentially leaving students with learning gaps. According to educational studies, individualized attention is crucial for young learners, and multitasking a curriculum across grades could compromise this dedicated focus.

Students, particularly those in the lower elementary grades, benefit most from consistency and focused teaching. Transferable skills and direct interactions with peers and teachers are essential for their development. However, in split classrooms, younger students might struggle to keep up with older classmates' instruction, and older students may not find the challenge they need and deserve, leading to increased frustration and disengagement.

Warwick's community is known for its dedication to education and student welfare. We need to uphold these values by ensuring that every child receives optimal educational opportunities. The focus should remain on targeted curriculum delivery that meets the distinct learning needs of each grade level. While budget and enrollment issues exist, the solution should not compromise student learning and teacher effectiveness.

We call upon Warwick's school district to reconsider and halt the adoption of split classrooms within the elementary schools and to explore alternative solutions that support both our teachers' ability to provide quality education and our children's right to receive it.

Please sign this petition to ensure that Warwick elementary students have access to proper, focused, and individualized education that a split classroom setting cannot provide.