New Law Increases Instructional Time

Post date: Dec 9, 2013 2:10:10 PM

From the State Board of Education:

The 2013-15 operating budget act (Chapter 4, Laws 2013, 2nd Spec. Sess.) implements this requirement. The budget act provides that “School districts shall implement the increased instructional hours for the instructional program of basic education required under the provisions of RCW 28A.150.220(2)(a) beginning with the 2014-15 school year, which enhancement is within the program of basic education.”

For the next school year, therefore, the basic education program requirement for minimum instructional hours in grades 1 through 12 is revised as follows:

2013-14 = District-wide annual average 1,000 hours in grades 1-12

2014-15 = 1,000 hours in each of grades 1-6; 1,080 hours in each of grades 7-12

Currently, our District maintains about 1040 hours in grades 9-12. This means beginning next school year, student instructional time will have to be increased by about 40 hours in grades 9-12.

How are we going to do it? GOOD QUESTION!