Section 226.735  Work Load for Special Educators

In order to provide students with IEPs the free, appropriate education to which they are entitled, each entity subject to this Part shall adopt a plan specifying limits on the work load of its special educators so that all services required under students' IEPs, as well as all needed ancillary and support services, can be provided at the requisite level of intensity.

a)         Each plan shall be developed in cooperation with the entity's affected employees and, where there is an exclusive representative, in accordance with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act (IELRA) [115 ILCS 5].  Each plan shall take effect for the 2009-10 school year, or as soon as possible after that date, if a later date is necessary to comply with an agreement under the IELRA in effect at the beginning of that school year.

b)         Each plan shall be based on an analysis of the activities for which the entity's special educators are responsible and shall encompass, but need not be limited to:

1)         individualized instruction;

2)         consultative services and other collaboration among staff members;

3)         attendance at IEP meetings and other staff conferences; and

4)         paperwork and reporting.

c)         The number of children served by a speech-language pathologist shall be based on the speech-language needs of each child.  The other provisions of this Section notwithstanding, at no time shall the caseload of a speech-language pathologist exceed 60 students.

(Source:  Added at 31 Ill. Reg. 9915, effective June 28, 2007)