S704 - COVID-19 Recovery Act. (SL 2020-3)

Overview: Sec. 2.11 of S.L. 2020-3, as amended by Sec. 3 of S.L. 2020-49, requires the following for school calendars for public school units in the 2020-2021 school year:

• Remote Instruction Plans. – Public school units must develop Remote Instruction Plans (Plans) for the 2020-2021 school year and submit the Plans to the State Board of Education (SBE) by July 20, 2020. The Plans must include information on how the units will deliver quality remote instruction to all students in the 2020-2021 school year, as well as information on teacher training, support for students and families, and engagement of community stakeholders.
• School Calendar. – The following requirements apply to the 2020-2021 school year only:
• All public school units must adopt a calendar that includes 190 days of instruction meeting all of the following requirements:
• 185 or 1025 hours of instruction that includes five remote instructional days in accordance with the remote instruction plan.
• An additional five instructional days that can only be satisfied by individually separate and distinct full instructional days, not by hours.
• Local school administrative unit (LEA) calendars must meet the following additional requirements:
• An opening date for students of August 17, 2020, except for defined year-round or modified calendar schools.
• A closing date for students no later than June 11, 2021, except for defined year-round or modified calendar schools.
• No remote instruction days scheduled prior to August 24, 2020.
• Required remote instruction days may be scheduled for use as teacher workdays.
• LEAs with good cause waivers cannot have an opening date for students earlier than August 17, 2020, but can use up to five additional remote instruction days for make-up days due to inclement weather or other emergency situations requiring closures.
• LEAs with qualifying year-round school calendars may make certain calendar modifications if needed for student health and safety.
• Public school units may use additional remote instruction days to satisfy instructional time requirements if the governing board determines remote instruction is needed to ensure student health and safety. The governing board must comply with required guidance from the SBE, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Public Instruction.

Reporting Requirement. – The SBE must report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the implementation of remote instruction by September 15, 2020.

This section became effective May 4, 2020.