FRANKFORT-A bill that would give school districts more leeway in setting school
calendars is on its way to the governor’s desk after passing the Kentucky House
today.
Senate Bill 50, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown,
would allow school districts to operate on a “variable student instructional year”
that would offer the same 1,062 or more hours of instructional time that’s required
for students under current rules. Districts that opt for the variable instructional
year wouldn’t have to meet the state’s 170-day requirement for the school year, as
long as students receive the number of hours’ worth of instruction that are
proportionately equivalent to 170 school days.
Districts could begin using the variable student instructional year with local board
approval beginning with the 2018-2019 school year if their first day of instruction
is on or after the Monday closest to Aug. 26.
Rep. Brian Linder, R-Dry Ridge, who explained the bill before the House vote, said
the variable option is “completely voluntary” and is designed to give school
districts more flexibility.
“When we look at schools, after testing, many days have become track-and-field and
band field trip days,” said Linder. “Many schools go these days just to get those
days in. This bill will allow them (if they start on the Monday closest to Aug. 26)
to use this and only use the 1,062 hours.”
House Minority Whip Wilson Stone, D-Scottsville, was concerned that the bill limits
school days to seven hours.
“If districts don’t elect to extend their school day somehow, either at the
beginning or the end of the day, then it would be very difficult for school
districts to start the 26th of August and still not be going into June,” said Stone.
The bill also would allow for creation of school district calendar committee
(comprised of a school principal, office administrator, a school board member,
parents of students in the district and a few others) that would recommend school
calendar options to the local board. And it would require that the media be notified
of school board meeting regarding the school calendar at least 24 hours in advance.