The Senate Education Committee moved ahead with legislation changing school calendar requirements from days or months to hours.
The chairwoman of the committee, Senator Amy Nichole Grady, praised the possibility of flexibility and more local control. And Grady, who is also a fourth grade teacher, cited one more factor.
“The quantity of instruction does not equal the quality of instruction,” said Grady, R-Mason.
“Because we are in school for a longer time does not necessarily mean the quality of instruction is better than if you’re there a little bit shorter of a time. I think we need to consider that and make sure we’re focusing on quality over quantity.”
Senate Bill 890 would change the minimum public school 180 instructional day requirement into a minimum 900 instructional hour requirement. The bill would also convert other public school calendar provisions from days or months to hours.
The Senate Education Committee discussed the bill on Tuesday and advanced it. The legislation now goes to the Senate floor.
“I think this will decrease regulations and open things up for counties to make decisions based on their local area,” said Senator Rollan Roberts, R-Raleigh, saying that the legislation could allow for year-round school if communities want that.
“So it opens some things up to help.”
Senator Craig Hart, R-Mingo, praised the potential for flexibility.
“If we can’t pay teachers more, maybe we can rearrange their week more and give them some more days,” Hart said.
“That’s something I’ve been hearing for years: ‘If you can’t pay us, maybe you can give us more time.”
Senator Mike Oliverio, R-Monongalia, wondered how far some of the flexibility would go: “Could a county school board decide to have school four days a week under this change?”
The answer is yes, with adjustments.
Oliverio suggested that could disrupt family schedules.
“I think that would really create havoc on families in West Virginia,” he said.
“It’s one thing to scramble and find childcare for a random day on a snow day or on President’s Day. It’s entirely different for a 35- 36-week school year to be looking for childcare every Wednesday or every Friday,” he said.