In April 2017 the SED issued a memo regarding the 180-day school day requirement regarding attendance and the school calendar.
Although, SED believed that this revised guidance was simply a clarification, NYSUT pressed them that what they had issued was actually a significant policy change regarding the use of scheduled half days of instruction.
Specifically, the revised guidance states that:
- Half days scheduled for elementary school students on days that count as Regents Exams Days do not count toward the 180 days.
- Half days scheduled on any “end-of-year” days before Regents Exam Days do not count toward the 180 days.
- Half days scheduled before scheduled vacation days for any grade levels, such as the days before Thanksgiving, do not count toward the 180 days.
It is NYSUT’s view that districts could indeed count scheduled half days of instruction towards the 180 days requirement, provided that the minimum number of hours of instruction for the week were met (25 hours for elementary and 27.5 for secondary, excluding lunch), and for weeks which contain a holiday the weekly minimum requirement is prorated accordingly.
The memo caused much confusion throughout the state. Some districts cancelled previously scheduled half days and/or eliminated scheduled school days off in order to meet the requiement. Toward the very end the school year the SED decided to postpone enforcement of the "clarifying memo." It seemed that the SED finally understood that what they had done was much more than a "clarification" and that they had created significant problems and confusion for districts across the state.
The SED recently put out a survey to collect feedback on the180-day requirement memo before making a final decision. The survey has NOT been highly publicized or is easily found on the SED website. Administrators and educators are are working together to publicize the existence of this survey. The deadline for completing the survey is Thursday, October 19th.
The SED's decision could affect future school years and existing contract language. The SED's decision would supercede any contract language on half days for parent /teacher conferences, end of year half days, etc. Limiting a District's ability to count scheduled half days or days in August could affect the practice and contract language of scheduled consecutive days off for December, February and Spring breaks.
SED's guidelines on attendance and the school calendar can be found by clicking this link here.
SED's 180 Day Field Questionaire survey can be found by clicking this link here.
I urge you to complete the survey and provide input. After completing the attached survey, save a copy of the form, and email the copy to 180days@nysed.gov
All forms must be submitted no later than Thursday October 19, 2017. For your convenience the SED memo is attached to this email. Please help to get the word out and ask supportive colleagues, families and friends respond to the survey.