Rescheduling of Instructional Days Cancelled Due to Inclement Weather

INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 94
POLICY CODE: IGA

TO: Superintendents of Schools, School Board Chairs and Private Heads of Schools

FROM: Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner

DATE: March 19, 2008

RE: Rescheduling of Instructional Days Cancelled Due to Inclement Weather

It has come to my attention that some SAUs have not yet taken steps to reschedule or have been waiting to see if a statewide waiver would be implemented. Please note there will not be a statewide, so-called blanket waiver for school cancellations except for graduating seniors. A universal waiver, for this year only, will be made for graduating seniors - given that graduation dates, facility reservations, and family plans have already been established. However, School boards should make efforts to reschedule lost days in accordance with Department of Education Regulation Chapter 125, Section 6.02, subsection C (www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/05/071/071c125.doc ). This would include making up as many as possible of the cancelled days for graduating seniors between now and graduation.

Regarding all other students, school officials could elect to file a waiver request when they have exhausted all reasonable options for making up lost school days. To date, most SAUs have taken actions such as cancelling or modifying school vacations, lengthening the school year, conducting classes on Saturdays and other rescheduling options. Department of Education Regulation Chapter 125, Section 6.02, subsection C of the regulations governing Basic Approval Standards delineates the only acceptable methods for rescheduling and it clearly states that lengthening of school days is not an acceptable means of rescheduling.

My position on rescheduling is based on the importance of protecting instructional time and upon the fact that Maine is one of a small number of states with the shortest school year in the country. While the issue of school effectiveness is certainly one of qualitative matters, quantitative considerations contribute as well. Our requirement of 175 instructional days barely permits adequate time to provide all the valuable educational services Maine students need.

To reiterate, although this has been an unusually stormy winter, reducing the number of instructional days for Maine students (excluding graduating seniors) will only be considered after every reasonable attempt to reschedule has been made. Waivers to the minimum requirements for instructional days will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

School boards should identify their rescheduling plans no later than April 11, 2008.

Please feel free to contact Dr. Edwin N. Kastuck, School Approval Services, at edwin.kastuck@maine.gov , by phone 624-6776 or at the address above if you have any questions.