The bill aims to amend the Code of West Virginia to ensure that classroom sizes are managed effectively to maximize the utilization of aides and enhance one-on-one interaction between teachers and students. It establishes specific maximum teacher-pupil ratios for various grade levels, including a limit of 20 pupils for kindergarten and 25 pupils for first through sixth grades, with provisions for employing early childhood classroom assistants or interventionists to meet these requirements. The bill also allows for exceptions under certain circumstances, such as extraordinary situations or when the overall pupil-teacher ratio is maintained at 25 or less in grades four through six.

A significant addition to the current law is the requirement that when classroom sizes become too large, affecting the time teachers can spend with students individually, the students must be split into two separate classrooms. This split is intended to ensure that aide coverage is available for both classrooms and is set to be implemented starting in the 2025-2026 school year. This change is designed to improve the teacher-pupil ratio and provide better individualized attention for students.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-5-18a
Engrossed Version: 18-5-18a