Adopted: MSBA/MASA
Model Policy 602
Revised: Rev.
2023
602 ORGANIZATION
OF SCHOOL CALENDAR AND SCHOOL DAY
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to provide for a timely determination
of the school calendar and school day.
II. GENERAL
STATEMENT OF POLICY
The school calendar and schedule of the school day are important
to parents, students, employees, and the general public for advance, effective
planning of the school year.
III. CALENDAR
RESPONSIBILITY
A. The school
calendar shall be adopted annually by the school board. It shall meet all provisions of Minnesota
statutes pertaining to minimum number of school days and other provisions of
law. The school calendar shall establish
student days, workshop days for staff, provide for emergency closings and other
information related to students, staff, and parents.
B. Except for
learning programs during summer and flexible learning year programs, the school
district will not commence an elementary or secondary school year before Labor
Day, except as provided in Section III.B.1., III.B.2., or III.B.3. Days devoted to teacher’s workshops may be
held before Labor Day.
1. The school district may begin the
school year on any day before Labor Day to accommodate a construction or
remodeling project of $400,000 or more affecting a school district school
facility.
2.
The school district may begin the
school year on any day before Labor Day if the school district has agreement under
Minnesota Statutes, section 123A.30, 123A.32, or 123A.35 with a school district
that qualifies under Section III.B.1.
3.
The school district may begin the
school year on any day before Labor Day if the school district agrees to the
same schedule with a school district in an adjoining state.
C. Employee and
advisory groups shall be provided an opportunity to participate in school calendar
considerations through a meet and confer process.
IV. SCHOOL DAY
RESPONSIBILITY
A. The
superintendent shall be responsible for developing a schedule for the student
day, subject to review by the school board.
All requirements and provisions of Minnesota Statutes and Minnesota
Department of Education Rules shall be met.
B. In
developing the student day schedule, the superintendent shall consider such
factors as school bus schedules, cooperative programs, differences in time
requirements at various grade levels, effective utilization of facilities, cost
effectiveness, and other concerns deserving of attention.
C. Proposed
changes in the school day shall be subject to review and approval by the school
board.
V. E-LEARNING
DAYS
A. An “e-learning day” is a school day
where a school offers full access to online instruction provided by students’
individual teachers due to inclement weather.
B. A school district may designate up to
five e-learning days in one school year.
C. An e-learning day is counted as a day
of instruction and included in the hours of instruction pursuant to Section
III.A., above.
D. A school
board may adopt an e-learning day plan after consulting with the exclusive
representative of the teachers. The e-learning day plan developed by the school district
will include accommodations for students without Internet access at home and
for digital device access for families without the technology or with an
insufficient amount of technology for the number of children in the
household. The plan must also provide
accessible options for students with disabilities.
E. The school district must notify parents
and students of its e-learning day plan at the beginning of each school year.
F. When an e-learning day is declared by
the school district, notice must be provided to parents and students at least
two hours prior to the normal school start time that students will need to
follow the e-learning day plan for that day.
G. On an e-learning day, each student’s
teacher must be accessible both online and by telephone during normal school
hours to assist students and parents.
H. When the school district declares an
e-learning day, it must continue to pay the full wages for scheduled work hours
and benefits of all school employees for the duration of the e-learning period.
During the e-learning period, school employees must be allowed to work from
home to the extent practicable, be assigned to work in an alternative location,
or be retained on an on-call basis for any potential need.
Legal References: Minn. Stat. § 10.55 (Juneteenth)
Minn. Stat. § 120A.40 (School Calendar)
Minn. Stat. § 120A.41 (Length of School Year; Hours of
Instruction)
Minn. Stat. § 120A.414 (E-Learning Days)
Minn. Stat. § 120A.415 (Extended School Calendar)
Minn. Stat. § 120A.42 (Conduct of School on Certain Holidays)
Minn. Stat. § 122A.40, Subds. 7
and 7a (Employment; Contracts; Termination)
Minn. Stat. § 122A.41, Subds. 4
and 4a (Teacher Tenure Act; Cities of the First Class; Definitions)
Minn. Stat. § 123A.30 (Agreements for Secondary Education)
Minn. Stat. § 123A.32 (Interdistrict
Cooperation)
Minn. Stat. § 123A.35 (Cooperation and Combination)
Minn. Stat. § 124D.126 (Powers and Duties of Commissioner;
Flexible Learning Year Programs)
Minn. Stat. § 124D.151 (Voluntary Prekindergarten Program)
Minn. Stat. § 124E.25 (Payment of Aids to Charter Schools)
Minn. Stat. § 127A.41, Subd. 7
(Distribution of School Aids; Appropriation)
Minn. Stat. § 645.44 (Words and Phrases Defined)
Cross References: MSBA/MASA Model Policy 425 (Staff Development)