School Year
1. In accordance with the Code
of Virginia, Montgomery County schools shawill be operated with
students in attendance a minimum ofat least one hundred eighty (180) teaching
days or nine hundred ninety (990) hours (540 hours for kindergarten) per school
year. Days on which schools are closed
due to inclementsevere weather or other emergencies shawill be made up if
necessary to meet these requirements in the manner prescribed by law.
2. Ten (10) days or the equivalent shall be included for such activities as teaching, planning for the opening of school, evaluation, completing records and reports incident to the closing of each semester or school year, committee assignments, and conferences as are defined by the Montgomery County School Board.
3. Ten days or the equivalent shall
be included for a continuation of activities named above, and/or other
activities as determined by the School Board.
Make Up Days
If severe weather conditions or other emergency situations result in the closing of a school or schools in the school division for
(1) five
or fewer days, all missed days will be made up by adding teaching days to the
school calendar or extending the length of the school day;
(2) six days or more, the first five days plus one day for each two days missed in excess of the first five will be made up by adding teaching days to the school calendar or extending the length of the school day.
If severe weather conditions or other emergency situations result in the closing of any school in the school division and such school has been unable to meet the 180 day teaching requirement, the school division may make up the missed teaching days by providing its students with instructional hours equivalent to such missed teaching days to meet the minimum 990 teaching hour requirement.
The Board of Education may waive the requirement that the school division provide additional teaching days or teaching hours to compensate for school closings resulting from a declared state of emergency under certain circumstances. If the School Board desires a waiver, it will submit a request for a waiver to the Board of Education. The request will include evidence of the school division’s efforts to reschedule as many days as possible and certification by the division superintendent and School Board chairman that every reasonable effort to make up lost teaching days was exhausted before the School Board requested the waiver. If the waiver is denied, the school division will make up the lost instructional time.
School Calendar
The first day of school shall be after Labor Day unless this requirement has been waived by the Virginia Board of Education pursuant to the Code of Virginia, §22:1-79.1. The School Board shall establish the school calendar and related teaching contracts in accordance with applicable regulations of the Board of Education to include contingencies for making up teaching days and teaching hours missed for emergency situations. Historical data shall be used to determine the needs of the school division including scheduling holidays, breaks and workdays.
School Day – Generally
The
standard school day for students in grades one through twelve will average at
least 5 ˝ hours, excluding breaks for meals. The standard school day for kindergarten
will be a minimum of three hours, excluding breaks for meals. The secondary school class schedule shall
contain a minimum of 140 clock hours for each unit of credit. When credit is awarded in less than whole
units, the increment awarded must be no greater than the fractional part of the
140 hours of
instruction provided.
The
time for opening and closing schools will be established by the School Board
upon recommendation of the division superintendent, provided that the daily
program for students in grades one through twelve will average at least 5 ˝
hours, excluding breaks for meals. If
the required program length is maintained, the School Board may approve
occasional shortened days for staff development, conferences, planning, and
other activities designed to improve the instructional program, provided that
no more than one day in each five-day week may be shortened to no less than
four hours. When exceptions in the
length of the daily program are necessary for special education, alternative
education, double shifts, and scheduling or other unusual situations, the
School Board will request approval for the exceptions by the Superintendent of
Public Instruction no later than by August 1 preceding the school year for
which they are requested.
The
School Board will determine the length of the workday for employees. It will be of sufficient length to allow for the daily program
for students and additional time as may be necessary for such activities as
planning, preparation, meetings, workshops, conferences, meal intermissions, or
other contractual obligations.
The
time for opening and closing school shall be prescribed by the School Board
upon recommendation of the division superintendent, provided the length of the
regular school day shall not be less than five and one-half (5˝) nor more than
six and one-half (6˝) hours for grades 1-12 exclusive of time for mid-day
breaks and/or lunch.
The
length of each kindergarten session shall not be less than three (3) hours and
shall meet the minimum class time as prescribed by the Virginia Board of
Education
The
secondary school class schedule shall contain a minimum of one hundred forty
(140) clock hours for each unit of credit. When credit is awarded in less than
whole units, the credit awarded must be no greater than the fractional part of
the one hundred forty (140) hours of instruction provided.
If
the required program length is maintained, the School Board may approve
occasional shortened days for staff development activities, conferences,
planning and other activities designed to improve the instructional program,
provided that no more than one (1) day in each five (5) day week may be
shortened to no less than four (4) hours.
No classes shall be dismissed
before the scheduled dismissal hour except with the approval of the division
superintendent.
The length of the school day shall be modified if appropriate per the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for a special education student.
Instructional Day
The Montgomery County School Board recognizes the need for establishing the length of the instructional day for all students in the division to provide consistency throughout the school system. The School Board also recognizes the need for daily school schedules to allow for differences in community and transportation needs within attendance zones. The School Board shall accept the standard provided by the Commonwealth of Virginia as minimal in nature and may extend student hours beyond state guidelines.
The division superintendent shall be authorized to establish daily time schedules for all schools within the system that shall be subject to School Board review at least on an annual basis. All students in similar grade classifications shall meet the established School Board directive on instructional day length at all schools in the division.
Montgomery County Public Schools recognizes the following exceptions to a full school day schedule that may be granted:
1. Students enrolled in cooperative work-study programs granting credit may be allowed a modified schedule.
2. Students with disabilities deemed appropriate by the IEP committee may be granted a modified schedule.
3. With principal approval, seniors attending schools with four-by-four block schedules who are meeting all graduation requirements may maintain a three-block schedule each semester.
4. With principal approval, a student attending a division alternative education program may be granted a modified schedule.
5. Any additional exceptions may be granted by the principal in cases of financial need, health, or other extenuating circumstances with division superintendent approval.
The instructional time shall be protected from interruptions and intrusions.
LEGAL REFERENCE: Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended §§ 22.1-19, 22.1-79.1, 22.1-98; Virginia Board of Education Regulations Governing Reduction of State Aid When Length of School Term Below One Hundred Eighty School Days, 8 VAC 20-520-10; and Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia, 8 VAC 20-131-10, et seq.
Adopted: April 2004
Revised: September 2006