HI SB2597

Establishes maximum student enrollment limits for public school classes beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, excluding charter schools.

Elementary school regular classes capped at 20 students; secondary school regular classes capped at 26 students.

Special education and English language learning classes have lower caps: fully self-contained elementary classes at 4 students, inclusion classes at 15 (elementary) or 20 (secondary), and content-based ELL classes at 15 (elementary) or 20 (secondary).

Limits total student load for any single teacher to a maximum of 150 students per school year.

Allows school principals to waive class size restrictions for high-demand classes, transfer students, or high school seniors needing courses for graduation; exempts band, orchestra, choir, and theatre classes from size restrictions.