The ratio of the FTE students enrolled in a school district in kindergarten through grade three to kindergarten through grade three FTE classroom teachers shall not be greater than the ratio of the FTE students to FTE classroom teachers in grades four through twelve. For the purpose of this section "classroom teacher" shall mean any instructional employee who possesses a valid teaching certificate or permit issued by the superintendent of public instruction, but not necessarily employed as a certificated employee, and whose "primary" duty is the daily educational instruction of students.
Computation of ratios. The FTE student to FTE classroom teacher ratios shall be computed as follows:
(1) For the purpose of this section exclude that portion of the time teachers and students participate in vocationally approved programs, traffic safety and special education programs from the above computations (i.e., programs hereby deemed to be "special programs").
(2) Exclude preparation and planning times from the computations for all FTE classroom teachers.
(3) Include in the above computations only the time certificated employees are actually instructing students on a regularly scheduled basis.
(4) Calculations:
(a) The kindergarten FTE October enrollment plus the October FTE enrollment in grades 1-3 divided by the FTE classroom teachers whose "primary" duty is the daily instruction of pupils in grades K through 3.
(b) The October FTE enrollment in grades 4 and above divided by the FTE classroom teachers whose "primary" duty is the daily instruction of pupils in grades 4 and above: Provided, That any district with three hundred or fewer FTE students in grades K-3 and an average K-3 classroom ratio of twenty-five or fewer FTE classroom students to one FTE classroom teacher shall be exempt from the FTE students to FTE classroom teachers ratio requirement of this subsection.
(5)
Waiver option, application and renewal procedures. See WAC
180-18-050 for waiver process.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 28A.630 RCW and 1995 c 208. 95-20-086, § 180-16-210, filed 10/4/95, effective 11/4/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.41.130. 89-01-039 (Order 24-88), § 180-16-210, filed 12/14/88; 87-12-043 (Order 12-87), § 180-16-210, filed 6/1/87. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.58.754(6). 84-11-043 (Order 2-84), § 180-16-210, filed 5/17/84. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.01.010, 28A.04.120, 28A.41.130, 28A.41.140, 28A.58.754, 28A.58.758, and 1979 ex.s. c 250. 79-10-033 (Order 10-79), § 180-16-210, filed 9/12/79. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.41.130 and 28A.58.754. 78-06-097 (Order 3-78), § 180-16-210, filed 6/5/78.]