Some York County school districts have looked into a state pilot program that would allow them some more options in making the most of a school day when the weather doesn't cooperate, and a bill in the legislature would also look to give schools more options when it comes to making up days canceled for reasons like snow and ice.
House Bill 158 would allow the state to declare a weather or other emergency at the district, county or state level, and in that case give schools two more options for meeting the requirement to have 180 days of school: either by meeting a minimum of 900 hours of instruction at the elementary level and 990 at the secondary level, or by scheduling school on no more than one Saturday a month.
The House education committee unanimously passed the bill, which now awaits the full House.
For state Rep. Kristin Phillips-Hill, a member of the committee, it was one of her first votes — and a subject she's all too familiar with, since she just left the Dallastown Area School Board. Dallastown had 21 days impacted by bad weather in 2013-14, she said, and she remembers a packed board meeting, where a well-spoken senior advocated for her class. There were concerns with extending the school year because of internships, summer college sessions and other reasons, Phillips-Hill said.
The legislation would give districts some additional options and provide them with more direction, she said.
"Every school district in York County was really scrambling to try and figure out the best way to do it," Phillips-Hill recalled. "You don't want to compromise on the integrity of the instruction you're providing your students."
Similar language was included in broader legislation last year that passed the House in the fall, but didn't move in the Senate, according to Rep. Seth Grove, who also serves on the education committee.
State law currently allows districts to seek permission to meet the 180-day requirement through hours instead of days if they prove a "meritorious" educational program, though weather is not considered a reason, state officials said last year. Still, some districts sought that waiver last year.
Flexible instruction pilot
In September, the state education department announced a pilot program that would allow districts to seek permission to use non-traditional methods of instruction when students can't make it in to school buildings for reasons such as weather. Such methods might be online or not, but the district would have to ensure all students had access to the resources to complete the work.According to acting state education spokesman Michael Rodriguez, 13 districts in the state submitted proposals for using the Flexible Instructional Days pilot program, including four in York County: Dallastown Area, West York Area, Red Lion Area and Southern York County.
Those proposals are still being reviewed, Rodriguez said, and the goal is to have them mid-February.
Joshua Doll, assistant superintendent in Dallastown, said the district submitted a proposal for seniors only that could allow the high school to send students home with a packet of work if a snow day is anticipated, for example. The idea would still need approval from the Dallastown school board, if the state gave its OK.
Districts with more one-to-one technology — where every student is given a device — were pushing for this kind of option, Doll said, and while Dallastown isn't quite there yet, "we also don't want to miss on an opportunity."
Doll said the district is very cognizant of the challenges an extended school year can pose seniors, who might be starting jobs or other post-graduation plans.
Southern York County School District also focused its application on seniors.
Robert Bryson, assistant superintendent, said the district felt the older students would better have the ability "to do a more independent project-based assignment or activity we could incorporate into their regular instruction, vs. sending home a fourth-grader, third-grader and making the assumption they're going to be able to get online or do that independent-based instruction for a day."
Some districts might be farther ahead than others in terms of technology, Bryson said, but a challenge for many would be making sure all students have access. Since the program is a pilot, he said, it made sense to look at a smaller population of students and teachers to put together a program that would give flexibility and be valid instruction.
"That's a key point, too," Supt. Sandra Lemmon added. "Obviously we value every learning day for our students. We wanted it to be meaningful and relevant."
©2015 York Daily Record (York, Pa.)
