CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Several county school systems across the state already have nearly half of the required 180-instructional days completed and they’ve done it before the Christmas break. This is the first year of a state law that mandates the 180 days even if the school year stretches into late-June.
In Kanawha County, students will complete day 85 when classes are over Friday and students leave for a two-week break. Kanawha County was one of a handful of counties that began the school year in early August in hopes of getting through the first semester before the holidays. Superintendent Ron Duerring said there were final exams this week.
“It allows those kids, where they are right in school and taking those exams before they leave,” Duerring said. “Then over the holidays they truly get a chance to have a break., almost like its done in college.
Kanawha and other counties started the change last year and while some were angered by the changes it brought, Duerring said most have grown to like it.
“Some people were concerned over the calendar because we were starting earlier,” Duerring said. “But I can say on a whole students and teachers loved it.”
Kanawha County’s school calendar was in pretty good shape this time last year but the January water crisis caused major problems.
Some school districts in West Virginia will have instructional days Monday and Tuesday of next week.