Bill proposes fewer teaching hours and smaller class sizes

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would set a general limit on the weekly teaching hours of staff in public schools: 23 hours in early childhood, primary and special education, and 18 hours for other levels. Education authorities could reduce them further.
2. In vocational training, teaching hours could be unevenly distributed during the school year and, exceptionally, exceed 18 hours up to a maximum of 20, with the excess offset by additional non-teaching hours.
3. The maximum number of students per classroom in compulsory education would drop: 22 in primary school and 25 in compulsory secondary education.
4. Each student with special educational needs would count as two spots when calculating the maximum class size in regular classrooms, and education authorities must provide the resources needed to support them.
5. The Ministry would set indicators to identify schools with many students needing specific support, located in areas of special social complexity, or with poor results, where maximum class sizes and resources could be adjusted. It would also set minimum conditions for specialized support to promote inclusive education.
6. The Government must set class sizes for other education levels by regulation within six months of the law taking effect. The teaching hours limit and the double counting of special needs students would apply from the 2026/2027 school year, and class sizes would apply gradually from 2027/2028, with full application in the 2031/2032 school year.

Who it affects

• Teachers in public non-university schools: Their weekly classroom teaching hours would be capped by law: 23 in early childhood, primary and special education, and 18 for other levels.
• Students and families in compulsory education: Classrooms would have a maximum of 22 students in primary school and 25 in secondary school.
• Students with special educational needs: They would count as two spots in class size calculations and receive specific resources in regular classrooms.
• Schools in areas of special social complexity or with high support needs: They could adjust maximum class sizes and receive additional staff and material resources.
• Autonomous communities (comunidades autónomas): They must guarantee the new class sizes and may improve them or further reduce teaching hours in their territory.

Words worth knowing

Jornada lectiva

The weekly hours teachers spend teaching students, not counting other duties such as meetings or supervision.

Ratio alumnado/unidad escolar

The maximum number of students allowed per classroom or class group.

Con carácter básico

The State sets minimum common rules for all of Spain, but the autonomous communities can add to or improve them.

Necesidades específicas de apoyo educativo

Student situations that require support or attention different from the ordinary kind, such as language difficulties or special educational needs.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries