(a) The ratio of students to instructors in any class in kindergarten or grades 1-3 in a Delaware public school shall not exceed 22 students as of the last school day of October. In calculating such ratio, a classroom instructional aide shall count as equal to half a teacher. This subsection shall only apply to a class within which students are instructed in the core academic subjects of English/Language Arts, mathematics, science and social studies.
(b) The Department of Education shall provide technical assistance to any school district seeking assistance in allocating its Division I, Division III, Comprehensive Discipline Program, and local operating funding in such a manner as to accomplish class sizes equal to or lower than those required by this section.
(c) A local school board may waive subsection (a) of this section after voting to waive such subsection at a public meeting noticed for that purpose. Any local school board vote on such a waiver shall occur on or before December 1 of each year. Notice for such a meeting shall be placed in the local newspaper for 2 consecutive weeks before the meeting and shall be posted on the door of any school affected for the same time period, and a copy shall be sent to the principal, teacher association building representative and Parent Teacher Organization/Parent Teacher Association parent leader of any affected school. The notice shall include the procedures for such persons to provide oral or written comments on the proposed waiver to the school board. Notice of any approved waiver shall be sent to the same persons.
(d) The State Auditor shall, in cooperation with the Department of Education, monitor compliance with this section in the audits of the boards of education of the schools district conducted pursuant to § 1504 of this title.
Structure Delaware Code
Chapter 17. STATE APPROPRIATIONS
§ 1701. Amount to be appropriated by General Assembly.
§ 1702. Divisions of school appropriations.
§ 1703. Unit of pupils [Effective until July 1, 2023].
§ 1703. Unit of pupils [Effective July 1, 2023].
§ 1703A. Extended Learning Opportunities Subcommittee.
§ 1705. Determination of amount of appropriation.
§ 1705A. Maximum student-instructor ratio requirements.
§ 1705B. Required reporting regarding maximum student-instructor ratio.
§ 1706. Determination of amount of Division II appropriation.
§ 1707. Division III equalization funding.
§ 1708. Form of appropriation.
§ 1709. Use of appropriation for purpose other than that designated.
§ 1710. Certification of number of units by Secretary of Education.
§ 1711. Salaries in excess of state supported uniform salary schedules.
§ 1712. Transfer of appropriation of closed and consolidated district.
§ 1713. State School Fund income and General Fund.
§ 1715. Unit of pupils for kindergartens.
§ 1716. Unit for academic excellence.
§ 1716A. Related services unit and funding.
§ 1716E. Mental health services unit and funding.
§ 1716F. Mental health services unit and funding for middle school.
§ 1717. Employment of personnel.
§ 1718. Matching federal funds.
§ 1719. Adjustment of appropriations.
§ 1721. Autistic unit and funding.
§ 1723. Comprehensive school discipline improvement programs.
§ 1725. Tracking of school district use of unit funds.