The maximum amount of students allowed in a classroom at one time is determined by state policy according to grade level. Under Bulletin 741 - Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators:
K-3: The maximum enrollment in a class or section in grades K-3 shall be 26 students. (Note: The system-wide, student classroom teacher ratio in grades K-3 shall be a maximum of 20 students to one classroom teacher.)
4-12: The maximum enrollment in a class or section in grades 4-12 shall be 33 students.
EXCEPT: The maximum class size for health and physical education in grades K-8 and in physical education I and II shall be 40. No class may be combined with physical education I or II if the total number of students taught is more than 40.
Additionally, a Local Education Authority may request a waiver from the State Superintendent under certain circumstances.
There are additional restictions under Bulletin 1706―Regulations for Implementation of the Children with Exceptionalities Act. Under Chapter 10. Section §1001 when providing services to all identified students with disabilities, the number of students in each instructional setting shall not exceed:
Self-Contained Classrooms | Preschool | Elementary | Secondary |
Autism | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Blindness | 7 | 9 | 9 |
Deafness | 7 | 9 | 9 |
Deaf-blindness | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Emotional Disturbance |
| 8 | 8 |
Hard of Hearing | 11 | 15 | 17 |
Mental Disability |
|
|
|
Mild |
| 16 | 16 |
Moderate |
| 11 | 17 |
Severe |
| 9 | 9 |
Profound |
| 9 | 9 |
Mild/Moderate (Generic) |
| 16 | 16 |
Multiple Disabilities | 7 | 9 | 9 |
Noncategorical Preschool |
|
|
|
Mild/Moderate Functioning |
|
|
|
Full Day | 11 |
|
|
Half Day | 16 |
|
|
Severe/Profound Functioning |
|
|
|
Full Day | 7 |
|
|
Half Day | 14 |
|
|
Other Health Impairment |
| 17 | 17 |
Orthopedic Impairment | 7 | 11 | 13 |
Partial Seeing | 11 | 15 | 17 |
Speech or Language Impairment | 7 | 9 | 9 |
Severe/Profound (Generic) |
| 9 | 9 |
Specific Learning Disability |
| 13 | 13 |
Traumatic Brain Injury | 7 | 9 | 9 |
For School-Aged Students, one teacher and two paraeducators shall be appointed for the initial six students with severe/profound or low incidence disabilities. There shall be one additional paraeducator for any additional group of three, not to exceed four additional groups of such students. The maximum number of students shall not exceed eighteen per unit.
For more information, please review Bulletin 741 and Bulletin 1706 at: https://bese.louisiana.gov/policy