Student Learning Time: Guidance on the 180-Day Requirement

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In February of 2011, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education issued guidance for Student Learning Time expectations, which, in part, centered on snow emergencies in the winter season. We are now seeing extreme weather events in all seasons. Emergencies such as record-breaking heat waves, severe rains, and widespread flooding are becoming more frequent and more intense. As a result, we are issuing this updated guidance to reflect these changing conditions to our environment.

Under the Massachusetts Student Learning Time regulations (603 CMR 27.00), school committees are required to schedule a school year that includes at least 185 days at each school and are required to operate the schools for at least 180 school days in a school year. In addition, schools must require that students are scheduled to receive a minimum of 900 hours of structured learning time per school year for elementary school students and a minimum of 990 hours of structured learning time per school year for secondary school students. Kindergarten students must receive a minimum of 425 hours of structured learning time per school year.

Student learning time is a precious resource. We recognize that rescheduling days when a school has closed mid-year may be inconvenient but depending on when in the school year the days are missed, school officials should be able to make the arrangements necessary so that students do not lose valuable learning time.

The Student Learning Time regulations include a provision that allows the commissioner to waive the 180-day requirement when an emergency or extraordinary circumstance forces the closing of one or more of a district's schools. To clarify when districts will be expected to make up lost time, how much time will need to be made up, and when waivers will be considered, we have established the following guidelines:

1. All days lost to health, weather, or safety emergencies from the first day of the school year through March 31^st must be made up by rescheduling full school days to ensure a 180-day school year.

2. All days lost to health, weather, or safety emergencies after March 31st must be made up to ensure a 180-day school year or at least until the district has reached its previously scheduled 185th day, whichever comes first. If the district has previously closed for 5 days because of health, weather, or safety emergencies, and subsequently closes for additional days, then the commissioner will consider a waiver in accordance with the Student Learning Time regulations on a case-by-case basis.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education adopted the 185-day regulation in anticipation that at least five days might be lost each year to weather emergencies. Increasingly, school districts have taken the initiative to start the school year before Labor Day, thereby building in additional flexibility to make up lost days before the end of June. Such planning is commendable.

I remain committed to meeting the need for all students to be engaged in structured learning time in school for a minimum of 180 days.

Please see below for answers to frequently asked questions about student learning time. If you have any questions on these guidelines, please contact Rob Curtin .

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Student Learning Time

1. Q: Does the school district need a waiver to close school for one or more days in cases where it will still provide at least 180 school days and the required hours of structured learning time?

   A: No. As long as the school is providing at least 180 days for students (900 hours for elementary schools, 990 hours for secondary schools, and 425 hours for kindergarten), the district does not need a waiver from the commissioner.

2. Q: Can shortened school days (e.g., parent/teacher conferences, early release for a holiday, professional development) be counted toward the 180 school days?

   A: Shortened days may count toward the 180 school days, but only the actual time spent on structured learning time can count towards the 900 hour requirement for elementary schools, 990 hour requirement for secondary schools, and 425 hour requirement for kindergarten.

3. Q: Is a waiver required if students and teachers must leave school early for an emergency situation, such as a safety threat at school or heating failure?

   A: No. If students and teachers report to school but must then leave because of an emergency situation, the day may still count toward the 180 school days, but only the actual time spent on structured learning time can count towards the 900 hour requirement for elementary schools, 990 hour requirement for secondary schools, and 425 hour requirement for kindergarten.

4. Q: Can the school committee schedule early release days for professional development as may be called for in the teachers' contract?

   A: Yes, as long as the schedule still meets the 180 school days and 900 hours (elementary), 990 hours (secondary), 425 hours (kindergarten) of structured learning time for students.

5. Q: If the school year is extended to make up for days the school is closed due to health, weather or safety emergencies, does high school graduation need to be rescheduled?

   A: No, the graduation date does not have to be rescheduled, except as noted below. Per 603 CMR 27.05, school districts are encouraged to schedule high school graduation as close as possible to the scheduled closing date of the high school, and graduation may be held up to twelve days before the regularly scheduled closing date. The earliest permissible release day for seniors is twelve school days prior to the regularly scheduled closing date of the school, which means that high schools operating on a 180 day year for students may release the seniors as early as the 168th day of school. If the date for high school graduation has been set and subsequently a few more days are added to the school year to make up for snow days or other emergencies, the original graduation date must be scheduled so it is no more than twelve school days before the originally scheduled closing date for the school year.

6. Q: Does Massachusetts law mandate specific start and end dates for school, or specific weeks of school vacation?

   A: No. Start and end dates for the school year are a local decision. Similarly, although public schools and public offices are required to be closed on legal holidays (see the list posted at Statewide Legal Holidays) the dates of school vacation weeks are also a local decision. In order to build in flexibility and ensure that all students receive the teaching and learning time to which they are entitled, we strongly recommend that school officials consider taking the following actions:

   • Hold the first day of school before Labor Day.
   • Schedule a one-week vacation in March instead of week-long vacations in February and April.
   • Notify parents, teachers, and students when the school calendar is adopted that the February and/or April vacations may be cancelled if multiple school days have to be made up due to inclement weather or other extraordinary circumstances.

Last Updated: November 20, 2024