Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 25, June 22, 2024
Section 53.26 - Teaching load(a) Each class of children shall be headed by a teacher certified under § 53.21 (relating to teachers).(b) There shall be a minimum of two adults present and available at all times when children are present at a school. Children may not be left unattended, indoors or outdoors, at any time.(c) Classes may be organized to have separate or mixed age groupings. A school may group nursery and kindergarten ages 3, 4 and 5 together when the school's methodology, instructional materials and staff training are appropriate to the grouping.(d) A school which has separate classes for ages 3, 4 and 5, which group ages 3 and 4 together or which group ages 3, 4 and 5 together shall follow the pupil-teacher ratios identified in the following chart. Pupil-Teacher Ratio
| Teacher, assistant teacher, aides | Number of Pupils |
| Age Groupings | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 & 4 | 3,4,5 |
| Director or teacher | 12 | 17 | 22 | 15 | 20 |
| Director or teacher and one aide | 17 | 21 | 27 | 19 | 26 |
Director or teacher and
assistant teacher or two aides | 22 | 25 | 30 | 23 | 28 |
(e) Exception to pupil-teacher ratios may be granted by the Board upon written request.The provisions of this § 53.26 adopted June 11, 1968, effective 6/26/1969; amended October 22, 1976, effective 10/23/1976, 6 Pa.B. 2665; amended August 26, 1988, effective 8/27/1988, 18 Pa.B. 3805.The provisions of this § 53.26 amended under the Private Academic Schools Act (24 P. S. §§ 6701-6721).