180-Day Waivers

How much instructional time should be provided in a school day?

The Board firmly believes in protecting instructional time for our students, and in that vein we agree with much in Jami Lund’s Op-Ed about the importance of instructional time (link: “Shorter school year shortchanges students,” Sept. 23). His arguments for protecting instructional time are well made, but his conclusions about the State Board of Education are not.

For starters, Lund’s assessment of the effect of the new proposal being considered by the Board is incorrect. The proposal would make it harder to receive a 180-day waiver, not easier. That’s no small detail to miss. Indeed, the whole reason for the proposal was to establish clear standards for a more rigorous approach to waiver review and, when appropriate, rejection. Continue reading »

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