This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to establish maximum teacher-pupil ratios in classrooms for grades kindergarten through six, ensuring that each classroom has a manageable number of students to facilitate effective teaching and the utilization of aides. Specifically, it sets limits on the number of pupils per teacher, with provisions for early childhood classroom assistants or aides based on the number of students. The bill also allows for the employment of full-time or part-time interventionists as an alternative to aides, while maintaining the requirement that county boards of education cannot exceed the number of multi-grade classrooms that existed as of January 1, 1983.

A significant addition to the bill is the new provision that mandates splitting classrooms into two separate classrooms when they become too large, thereby enhancing the one-on-one time teachers can spend with students. This split is designed to ensure that aide coverage is available for both new classrooms, improving the overall teacher-pupil ratio. The implementation of this split is set to begin in the 2025-2026 school year, aiming to create a more effective learning environment for students.

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