NC Education Code · NC Policy Manual
NC 1508-3 Class Size Chart
Plain English summary
This regulation establishes maximum class size requirements for special education service delivery models across elementary, middle, and high school levels. Requirements vary by service delivery type (General Skills, Targeted Skills, Sustained Support, Intensive Needs) and curriculum track (Extended Content Standards, Future-Ready Core, Occupational Course of Study), specifying both student counts and required teacher assistant ratios. Class sizes range from 6 to 14 students depending on the service delivery category and school level.
Key requirements
- Special Education General Skills: Elementary Extended Content Standards - 10 Students; Future-Ready Core Course of Study - 12 Students; Middle School Extended Content Standards - 12 Students; Future-Ready Core Course of Study - 14 Students 1 TA or 12 Students; High School Extended Content Standards - 8 Students or 12 Students 1 TA; Occupational Course of Study - 10 Students (Job Coach) 5 Students; Future-Ready Extended Content Standards - 12 or 14 Students 1 TA
- Special Education Targeted Skills: Elementary Extended Content Standards - 10 Students 1 TA or 2 Students; Future-Ready Core Course of Study - 12 Students 1 TA; Middle School Extended Content Standards - 10 Students 1 TA; Future-Ready Core Course of Study - 14 Students 1 TA; High School Extended Content Standards - 10 Students 1 TA; Future-Ready Extended Content Standards - 14 Students 1 TA
- Special Education Sustained Support: Elementary Extended Content Standards - 10 Students 1 TA; Future-Ready Core Course of Study - 12 Students 1 TA; Middle School Extended Content Standards - 10 Students 1 TA; Future-Ready Core Course of Study - 12 Students 1 TA; High School Extended Content Standards - 12 Students 1 TA; Future-Ready Extended Content Standards - 14 Students 1 TA (Job Coach)
- Special Education Sustained Support additional requirement: 8 Students 1 TA or 6 Students 1 TA configurations apply at certain levels
- Special Education Intensive Needs: Elementary - 8 Students 1 TA; Future-Ready Core - 8 Students 2 TA; Middle School Extended Content Standards - 6 Students 1 TA or 8 Students 2 TA; Future-Ready Core Course of Study - 6 Students 1 TA or 8 Students 2 TA; High School Extended Content Standards - 8 Students 1 TA or 10 Students 2 TA; Future-Ready Extended Content Standards - 8 Students 2 TA (Job Coaches)
Affected parties
- Special education students
- Special education teachers
- Teacher assistants
- Job coaches
- Elementary schools
- Middle schools
- High schools
- Local education agencies (LEAs)