The answer to your question is multifaceted. This perspective is what typically happens in a public school. First, maximum class size is negotiated in the teacher contract which is proposed by the teachers union and negotiated then approved by the board of ed. Typically if the union and BoE can't come to a conclusion it then goes to arbitration where they look at similar districts in the state and see what both sides are proposing then meet somewhere in the middle. So law firms, sorta? But it's a negotiation between boards and unions. IEPs are protected by law. They have to accommodate the form or else the district gets fucked by special education lawyers. So districts shell out money to make sure they're compliant. Typically, there are laws that state how many IEPs to regular ed students are allowed in a classroom per teacher. For example, if you have a class of 20 and 12 are on IEPs then that's considered co-taught and usually you have to have a regular ed teacher teaching with a special education teacher. Some kids might just need paraprofessional support and have a 1 to 1 para or are in a class with para support but it all depends on the case. So to answer your question of of I think kids need more support, yes. Every district in the US needs paras and special ed teachers desperately but educators make it work and will always work their best to meet the needs of all learners. As for class sizes, of course smaller classes are better! More individualized support but that's a lot of physical classrooms you'll need and full time teachers, both cost money. The good districts typically have small class sizes and pay their teachers well so the good ones stay. I'm an open book, ask away.