SCHOOL CALENDAR
The school calendar shall accommodate the education program of the school district. The school calendar shall be for a minimum of two hundred days and include, but not be limited to, the days for student instruction, staff development, in-service days and teacher conferences.
The academic school year for students shall be for a minimum of one hundred and eighty days in the school calendar. The academic school year for students may not begin prior to September but may begin in the week in which September 1 falls unless a waiver is obtained from the Iowa Department of Education. Should September 1 fall on a Sunday, school may begin any day during the calendar week which immediately precedes September 1. Employees may be required to report to work at the school district prior to this date.
Special education students may attend school on a school calendar different from that of the regular education program consistent with their Individualized Education Program.
The Board, in its discretion, may excuse graduating seniors from up to five days of instruction after the school district requirements for graduation have been met. The Board may also excuse graduating seniors from making up days missed due to inclement weather if the student has met the school district's graduation requirements.
It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to develop the school calendar for recommendation, approval, and adoption by the Board annually.
The Board may amend the official school calendar when the Board considers the change to be in the best interests of the school district's education program.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 20.9; 279.10, 280.3 (1995).
281 I.A.C. 12.2(1).
Cross Reference: 501.3 Compulsory Attendance
601.2 School Day
603.3 Special Education
Approved: 5/12/97 Reviewed: 1/00
10/06
7/17
The student school day for grades one through twelve shall consist of a minimum of six hours, not including the lunch period. The school day consists of the schedule of class instruction and class activities as established and sponsored by the school district. Time during which students are released from school for parent/teacher conferences may be counted as part of the student's instructional time. The minimum school day shall meet the requirements as established for the operation of accredited schools.
The Board may define the number of days kindergarten will be held and the length of each school day for the students attending kindergarten. The school day shall consist of a schedule as recommended by the superintendent and approved by the Board.
The school district may also record a day of school with less than the minimum instructional hours if the total hours of instructional time for grades one through twelve in any five consecutive school days equals a minimum of twenty-seven and one-half hours, even though any one day of school is less than the minimum instructional hours because of a staff development opportunity provided for the instructional staff or parent-teacher conferences have been scheduled beyond the regular school day. Schedule revisions and changes in time allotments will be made by the superintendent.
When the school is forced to close due to weather or other emergencies that part of the day during which school was in session will constitute a school day.
It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to inform the Board annually of the length of the school day.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code § 279.8 (1995).
281 I.A.C. 12.2(2), .2(3), .2(6).
Cross Reference: 601.1 School Calendar
Approved: 5/12/97 Reviewed: 1/00
10/06
7/17
Code No. 601.3
EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSINGS
The superintendent of schools for the District or the superintendent’s designee shall have the authority to close schools because of extreme weather or other emergency conditions for the length of time the conditions exist. The superintendent shall make provisions to publicly announce such closings via available mass communication media as soon as possible after the decision to close.
Every reasonable effort shall be made to have students attend the total amount of school days or hours annually as specified by statute, state departmental rules, and local school board policy.
Approved: 7/2017