Missed School Days

"It recognizes that we had an unusual disaster and there are a lot of issues such as when summer school starts, if a student wants to graduation from high school and be enrolled in the collegiate level that these extra days could cause a problem" said Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, chair of the Senate Education Committee. 

The bill, sponsored by Rep. B.J. Marsh, R-Springfield, would exempt school districts located in counties declared a federal disaster area after the January ice storm not to be forced to make up school days canceled from January 15-22. Schools in districts that were not declared as a federal disaster area but missed eight or more days would not have to make up six of those days under the bill. 

The proposed law contains an emergency clause that would make it take effect as soon as it is passed by both chambers and signed by the governor. Bills without an emergency clause usually do not take effect until August.  

The bill, HB 678, has has already been approved by the House, and has moved swiftly through Senate proceedings. 

"Yes, there's a  loss if there are days cut from the schedule, that's an opportunity of learning that is forfeited," Nodler said. However, if the students have the credits to qualify for graduation you have to balance that between deferring and delaying their opportunity to progressing educationally to the next level," Nodler said. "In a perfect world this disaster wouldn't have happened."

According Jim Morris, director of public information for the Department of Primary and Secondary Education, no agency officially tracks the number of days school districts miss. School districts in southwest Missouri were hit the hardest by ice storms.

Morris said he has heard "a little bit of chatter from school districts needing to know if this bill is going to be passed so teachers can plan accordingly."

"The closer we get to the end of the school year the less flexible it gets for teachers and school districts so it would be helpful to know the future of this bill."

Morris said bills forgiving missed school days are not unusual, and have been passed by the General Assembly a couple times before.  

 How to make it your story

• How does makeup day affect vacation and travel plans for students' parents?
• How many school days did your school miss and how long the school year will have to be extended if this bill doesn't pass?
• Have teachers in your school already adjusted lesson plans assuming the school year goes longer?
• Is there any change in when final exams or AP tests will be administered?
• Are there any students (presumably seniors, but maybe not) that have accepted jobs or entrance to a school that starts when school was originally scheduled to end? What will happen if this law doesn't pass?