Section 226.730  Class Size for 2009-10 and Beyond

a)         When a student's IEP calls for services in a general education classroom, the student must be served in a class that is composed of students of whom at least 70 percent are without IEPs, that utilizes the general curriculum, that is taught by an instructor holding an educator license for general education and who is employed for that purpose, and that is not designated as a general remedial classroom.  For purposes of this subsection (a), a student who receives speech services outside of the general education classroom and who does not require modifications to the content of the general education curriculum shall be included in the calculation of the percentage of students without IEPs.  (See 105 ILCS 5/14-2.)

b)         Class size means the total number of students an educator serves during any special education class.  As used in this subsection (b), "class" means any circumstance in which only students with IEPs are served and at least one special education teacher is assigned and provides instruction or therapy exclusively to students with IEPs.  In the formation of special education classes, consideration shall be given to the age of the students, the nature and severity of their disabilities, the educational needs of the students, and the degree of intervention necessary, subject to the limitations of this subsection (b).

1)         Classes in which all of the students receive special education services for 20 percent of the school day or less shall have at least one qualified teacher for each 15 students in attendance during any given class.  However, the district may increase the class size by a maximum of two students when a paraprofessional educator is provided for the entire class.

2)         Each class in which any student receives special education services for more than 20 percent of the school day but no more than 60 percent of the school day shall have at least one qualified teacher for each 10 students in attendance during that class.  However, the district may increase the class size by a maximum of five students when a paraprofessional educator is provided for the entire class.

3)         Each class in which any student receives special education services for more than 60 percent of the school day shall have at least one qualified teacher for each eight students in attendance during that class.  However, the district may increase the class size by a maximum of five students when a paraprofessional educator is provided for the entire class.

4)         Each class for children ages three through five shall have at least one qualified teacher for each five students in attendance during that class.  However, the district may increase the class size by a maximum of five students when a paraprofessional educator is provided for the entire class.

5)         The provisions of subsections (b)(1) through (4) notwithstanding, class size shall be limited according to the needs of the students for individualized instruction and services.

c)         The maximum class sizes set forth in subsection (b) shall, if necessary, be further restricted at the local level to account for the activities and services in which the affected educators participate in order to provide students with IEPs a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment to which they are entitled.

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 2244, effective February 6, 2023)