lunenburgbudgetproject.org — written by the Lunenburg Budget Project, an independent tool for residents. Not affiliated with the Town of Lunenburg, the School Committee or the school district. The data this page is computed from: /data/topics/class-size-limits.json
A separate special education group may hold 8 students to one educator, or 12 with an aide.
1 · The facts
8
most in a separate group, one educator
law
12
most with an educator and an aide
law
16
most in a partly separate group, two aides
law
20
most in an integrated preschool class
law
60%
outside general education, above which it is separate
law
0
the rule sets on adults in a room
law
41
counted substantially separate, FY2026
258
with a plan, FY2026
—
how many groups Lunenburg runs, and how large
not published
2 · What it shows
1
A separate group may not exceed 8 students to one educator, or 12 with an aide.
2
The more separate the group, the lower the cap: 16 partly separate, 12 fully.
3
The rule caps children, not adults: it sets 0 limits on adults, and a plan can add aides.
4
41 of 258 children were counted substantially separate in FY2026; that is not a count of groups.
Group-size limits in 603 CMR 28.06
Year
Most students
Educators
Aides
Clause
School age, partly separate
8
1
0
603 CMR 28.06(6)(c)
School age, partly separate
12
1
1
603 CMR 28.06(6)(c)
School age, partly separate
16
1
2
603 CMR 28.06(6)(c)
School age, substantially separate
8
1
0
603 CMR 28.06(6)(d)
School age, substantially separate
12
1
1
603 CMR 28.06(6)(d)
Young children, integrated preschool
15
1
1
603 CMR 28.06(7)(e)
Young children, integrated preschool
20
1
1
603 CMR 28.06(7)(e)
Young children, substantially separate preschool
9
1
1
603 CMR 28.06(7)(f)
Parsed from the sentences that state them. Every tier names one educator; an aide is what raises the ceiling.
What was said
“Julianna Hanscom states there is no formula. The school is aware of what students are in programs who will then go into a program next year. There hasn’t been a large or small caseload, and the inclusion of teachers is between 15 to 20 students”
“seven of her IEP students with significant pull-out service needs were being seen by a paraprofessional rather than a certified special education teacher”