The school calendar shall accommodate the education program of the school district.  The school calendar shall be for a minimum of 1080 hours and include, but not be limited to, the days for student instruction, staff development, in-service days and teacher conferences. Each year the minimum school calendar may include up to 5 days or 30 hours of instruction delivered primarily over the internet.

The academic school year for students shall begin no sooner than August 23.  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. The board shall hold a public hearing on any proposed school calendar prior to adopting the school calendar.

 

 Legal Reference:    Iowa Code §§ 20.9; 279.10, 280.3 (2013).

                               281 I.A.C. 12.2(7). 

 

 Cross Reference:    501.03  Compulsory Attendance

                                601.02  School Day

                                603.03  Special Education 

 

Approved 10/20/11     Reviewed  7-13-2022              Revised    8-16-23       

The student school day for grades one through twelve will 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 will 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 thirty 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.  If the total hours of instructional time for the first four consecutive days equal at least thirty hours because of parent-teacher conferences have been scheduled beyond the regular school day, the school district may record zero hours of instructional time on the fifth consecutive school day as a 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.

Le  gal Reference:    Iowa Code § 256.7, 279.8, .10 (2013).

                               281 I.A.C. 12.1(1), .1(7-10).  

 

 Cross Reference:    601.01  School Calendar

 

Approved 10/20/11     Reviewed  7-13-2022             Revised    1/17/18