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 implement and maintain 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)         Work load limits 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], to ensure timely implementation by the start of the school year. 

b)         Work load limits 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 and 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 and language pathologist exceed 60 students.

(Source:  Amended at 40 Ill. Reg. 2220, effective January 13, 2016)