ST. LOUIS – Snow days are stacking up for many Missouri school districts. With another round of snow on the way, some schools could face a full week without in-person learning.
When a Missouri public school district or charter school closes due to inclement weather, the decision is made with careful consideration of state laws. Every year, schools that qualify for state funding are required by law to meet a minimum number of instructional hours.
According to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Missouri law requires public school districts and charter schools to provide at least 1,044 hours of instruction each school year.
To account for weather disruptions, according to DESE, schools must also plan for “a minimum of 36 weather make-up hours” for potential weather-related closures in their calendars. That’s roughly 5-6 school days can simply stack to the end of a school year to meet state requirements.
Keep in mind, as Missouri schools plan ahead to meet the required instructional hours, each district can build in a set number of snow days into their calendar. Ultimately, this provides a buffer to ensure that a school year ends on par with the original calendar and gives schools some flexibility to adjust the end date of a school year accordingly, given that the state’s hourly instruction requirements are met.
Then What?
What happens if snow and inclement weather demand a school district to use more 5-6 traditional school days not previously built into a school’s schedule? It’s certainly a possibility for some Missouri school districts if weather prompts more closures for the ongoing school year beyond this week.
According to DESE, after a school makes up 36 hours lost to weather, it must make up half of the additional hours missed between 36 and 60 hours. For example, if a school misses four full school days (beyond the 36 hours) due to weather, it only needs to make up two of those days.
After reaching the cap of 60 hours missed due to inclement weather and making up hours in accordance with state laws, a school can file a request with Missouri DESE. If approved, eligible schools may not need to make up any further time missed beyond the 60-hour limit, which is roughly 10 snow days.
Role of Virtual Learning Days
To combat concerns with snow days, some schools are turning to virtual learning days, which the state recognizes as alternative methods of instruction (AMI) days.
When schools move forward with an AMI day, it counts as a day in session. Schools can claim attendance hours if students are tasked to complete presecribed lessons within specific timeframes.
According to DESE, Missouri law allows schools to claim up to 36 hours of AMI time toward their required instructional hours, provided that DESE pre-approved the school’s plan. This practice has become more common since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
How Schools Handle Snow Dyas
With all of this in mind, here’s how most Missouri schools navigate snow days:
Build in snow days to take throughout the year into an upcoming school year’s calendar.
Plan up for 5-6 make-up days and add them to the school year calendar as necessary.
Use AMI days for some closures, reducing the need for some in-person make-up days.
Follow state guidelines to make up additional time (up to 60 missed hours) before DESE considers waiving extra snow days.
Under current state law, Missouri schools can prepare for up to 96 hours of in-person learning impacted by weather. That’s 60 hours (or around 10 days) for schools to make up and up to 36 hours (or 5-6 days) that can be covered by AMI days instead of traditional snow days.
Finding the right balance will be a challenge for Missouri schools in the upcoming weeks and months, but there is still some flexibility for schools to plan for short-term and long-term solutions around this year’s weather closures.