(a)

1. (1) Teacher–pupil caseload.

   1. (A)

(i) The maximum caseload for a full-time classroom teacher is thirty (30) children with a minimum of one (1) paraprofessional.

1. (ii) The maximum per section or session caseload in a center-based program for preschool children with disabilities is one (1) qualified early childhood special education teacher to fifteen (15) children (1:15).

   1. (B) The maximum allowable caseload for a classroom teacher is based on the percentage of time the individual is employed during a forty-hour work week, as set out in the Teacher/Pupil Caseload Center-Based Program Chart, Chart # 1-26 of this section.
   2. (C) Consideration may be given to providing additional assistants/aides and/or reducing the teacher–pupil caseload when warranted due to the adaptive behavior and/or physical needs of the children.

   3. (D) Factors to be considered in determining any downward adjustment in the teacher–pupil caseload include the:

      1. (i) Ages of the children served;
      2. (ii) Number of preschool children in each age group;
      3. (iii) Nature and severity of disabilities;
      4. (iv) Square footage of the classroom;
      5. (v) Frequency and duration of services;
      6. (vi) Geographic location of the children served (teacher travel time);
      7. (vii) Objectives to be met within the setting;
      8. (viii) Number of developmental domains to be addressed; and
      9. (ix) Time spent in other duties (testing, screening, paperwork, preparation, conferences). CHART # 1-26 TEACHER/PUPIL CASELOAD CENTER-BASED PROGRAM

         DAYS OF SERVICE	FTE(40 HOUR WORK WEEK)	ALLOWABLE CASELOAD
         5	1	30
         4	.8	24
         3	.6	18
         2	.4	12
         1	.2	6

         CHART # 2-26 TEACHER/PUPIL CASELOAD ITINERANT/HOME TEACHER

         DAYS OF SERVICE	F.T.E.(40 HOUR WORK WEEK)	ALLOWABLE CASELOAD
         		WITH PARAPROFESSIONAL	WITHOUT PARAPROFESSIONAL
         5	1	60	40
         4	.8	48	32
         3	.6	36	24
         2	.4	24	16
         1	.2	12	8

2. (2) Facilities. Facilities shall meet the Arkansas childcare licensing standards.

(b) Home training services — teacher–pupil caseload.

1. (1) The maximum caseload is sixty (60) with an aide or assistant.
2. (2) The maximum caseload is forty (40) without an aide or assistant.
3. (3) The home training responsibility may be shared by one (1) or more professionals (early childhood special education teacher, occupational therapist, physical therapist, speech-language pathologist, social worker and/or counselor, etc.) depending on the child’s needs.

4. (4)

   1. (A) Instruction may be augmented through the use of paraprofessionals.

   2. (B) When using an assistant, the following activities are required:

      1. (i) Direct, on-site supervision of an assistant with each child twice per month; and
      2. (ii) Indirect supervision of an assistant for a minimum of fifteen (15) minutes per week for each child.

   3. (C) When using an aide, the following activities are required:

      1. (i) Direct, on-site supervision of an aide with each child once per week; and
      2. (ii) Indirect supervision of an aide for a minimum of thirty (30) minutes per week for each child.

5. (5) Factors in determining the teacher-pupil caseload include, but are not limited to, the:

   1. (A) Age of the children served;
   2. (B) Severity of the disabilities;
   3. (C) Geographic location of the children served (teacher travel time);

   4. (D)

      1. (i) Frequency and duration of home visits.
      2. (ii) A suggested minimum is one (1) hour per week; and

   5. (E) Objectives to be met within the setting.

      1. (c) Itinerant early childhood services.

6. (1) Definition.

   1. (A) “Itinerant services” means those direct early childhood special education services that are provided individually or in small group settings and include the service provider traveling to the child or the child traveling to the service provider.
   2. (B) Itinerant services may be provided by one (1) or more professionals (early childhood special education teacher, speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, social worker, counselor, etc.) depending on the child’s needs.

7. (2) Teacher–pupil caseload.

   1. (A) The maximum caseload is sixty (60) with an aide or assistant.
   2. (B) The maximum caseload is forty (40) without an aide or assistant.
   3. (C) The maximum allowable caseload for an itinerant teacher is based upon the percentage of time the individual is employed during a forty-hour work week, as set out in the Teacher/Pupil Caseload Itinerant/Home Teacher Chart, Chart # 2-26 of this section.

   4. (D)

      1. (i) Instruction provided by the early childhood special education teacher may be augmented through the use of paraprofessionals.
      2. (ii) When using an assistant, the following activities are required:

(b) (b) Indirect supervision of an assistant for a minimum of fifteen (15) minutes per week for each child.

1. (iii) When using an aide, the following activities are required:

(b) (b) Indirect supervision of an aide for a minimum of thirty (30) minutes per week for each child.

1. (E) Factors to be used in determining the teacher-pupil caseload include, but are not limited to, the:

   1. (i) Ages of the children served;

      1. (ii) Nature and severity of the disabilities;
      2. (iii) Geographic location of the children served (teacher travel time);
      3. (iv) Frequency and duration of services;
      4. (v) Objectives to be met within the setting;
      5. (vi) Number of developmental domains to be addressed; and
      6. (vii) Time spent in other duties (testing, screening, paperwork, and preparation).