School Class Size Requirements

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53G-6-408
0
School Class Size Requirements
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Jordan D. Teuscher
Senate Sponsor:
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill establishes a class size limitation within the public education system.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
defines terms;
establishes a class size limitation;
allows for a certain variance from the class size limitation; and
provides certain rulemaking authority to the State Board of Education.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
53G-6-408
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section
53G-6-408
is enacted to read:
53G-6-408
. Class size limitation.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
(i)
"Class" means a course, section, or instructional period in which an LEA or
school assigns a group of students to a teacher who is primarily responsible and
accountable for the instruction of a particular subject or group of subjects during a
specific class period or instructional block.
(ii)
"Class" does not include a large-group class.
(b)
"Large-group class" means a secondary grade class:
(i)
which traditionally includes a larger group of students, including a choir, band,
orchestra, or physical education class; and
(ii)
for which there is adequate supervision and facilities for safe and effective
instruction.
(c)
"Secondary grade" means grades 6 through 12 in a middle school, junior high school,
and high school.
(2)
(a)
Except as provided in Subsection
(2)(b)
, an LEA or school within an LEA may
not assign more than 25 students to a class.
(b)
The limitation described in Subsection
(2)(a)
does not apply:
(i)
if the LEA or school assigns a paraeducator, paraprofessional, or teaching aide to
the class the majority of classroom time; or
(ii)
for an online school or course using an asynchronous learning model.
(3)
If, after the school year begins, unanticipated enrollment changes make immediate
compliance with Subsection
(2)
impracticable, an LEA governing board may approve a
temporary variance for the affected class for the remainder of the term, if the board:
(a)
adopts a written plan to return the class to compliance for the immediately ensuing
term or semester; and
(b)
provides written notice to the parents or guardians of students in the affected class
within 10 school days that describes the reason for the variance and the steps the
LEA or school will take to return to compliance.
(4)
(a)
The state board shall make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
Administrative Rulemaking Act, to establish procedures for:
(i)
LEA documentation of compliance; and
(ii)
reporting class sizes to the state board.
(5)
(a)
The state board may make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
Administrative Rulemaking Act, to:
(i)
identify additional class types in secondary grades that:
(A)
are pedagogically suited to large-group instruction; and
(B)
for which a designation as a large-group class described in Subsection
(5)(a)(ii)
does not impair instructional effectiveness or student safety; and
(ii)
designate a class described in Subsection
(5)(a)(i)
as a large-group class that is
exempt from the limitation described in Subsection
(2)
.
(6)
Nothing in this section prohibits an LEA or a school within an LEA from adopting more
stringent class size limits.
Section 2.
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on
July 1, 2026
.
1-28-26 1:33 PM