Number of Instructional Days/Hours in the School Year MS Word PDF - This StateNote examines the minimum number of instructional days required in each state. While states vary widely on this, a majority of states (30) set the bar at 180, two mandate 181 days and above, three range from 179 to 176 days, five set it at 175 days, two from 174 to 171 days and one is under 170 days. (Jeffrey Tomlinson, Education Commission of the States, July 2004)...

Focus on the School Calendar: The Four-Day School Week - The school calendar and instructional time have changed little during the lifetimes of current policymakers, yet expectations for students and teachers have increased significantly. The report lists the potential benefits and the potential challenges of a four-day school week and poses questions that policymakers should consider before making changes to the school calendar. (Gail Gaines, Southern Regional Education Board, August 2008)...