Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation on Friday, June 7 that reinstates a minimum of five hours of instruction per day in schools.
This also allows exemptions for students enrolled in dual credit, career development and youth apprenticeships.
The requirement was repealed last session.
SB 28 goes into effect on July 1, 2019.
According to the state Board of Education, the law also allows school districts statewide to utilize e-learning days in lieu of emergency days.
Schools have found that using e-learning days instead of emergency days allows the curriculum to move forward, so students stay on track during inclement weather and other unexpected events, according to the Board.
“The academics and assignments focus on what students are working on at the time of the e-learning day,” said Gurnee School District 56 Superintendent Dr. Colleen Pacatte, whose district was one of three to participate in the state’s e-learning pilot. “By the time you start adding days to the end of the school year, kids are checked out, families are checked out, and everybody knows that they’re jumping through hoops. An e-learning day is more meaningful than adding days at the end of the school year.”
SB 28 also allows school districts to use two of the 176 instructional calendar days for parent/teacher conferences.
This article originally appeared in KFVS12.
