The calendar for each school year will be recommended by the Superintendent and submitted to the School Committees for approval. The calendar will be in compliance with the regulations for the school year as established by the state Board of Education. The calendar and length of the school day will comply with the collective bargaining agreement(s) currently in effect within the District.
Elementary schools will operate for a minimum of 180 days. To ensure that the schools operate for that minimum, the school year calendar published for the elementary schools will include 185 school days to allow for up to five snow days or other school cancellations (603 CMR27.03). Schools will ensure that every elementary school student is scheduled to receive a minimum of 900 hours per school year of structured learning time, as defined in 603 CMR 27.02.
Secondary schools will operate for a minimum of 180 days. To ensure that the schools operate for that minimum, the school year calendar published for the secondary schools will include 185 school days to allow for up to five snow days or other school cancellations (603 CMR27.03). Schools will ensure that every secondary school student is scheduled to receive a minimum of 990 hours per school year of structured learning time, as defined in 603 CMR 27.02.
The length of the school day at each level, as well as the specific opening and closing times of the schools, will be recommended by the Superintendent and set by the School Committee.
The Superintendent is authorized to make minor changes in opening and closing times to simplify transportation scheduling; however, major changes in a schedule will be subject to the approval of the School Committee.
Parents and guardians will be informed of the opening and closing times set by the School Committees.
The Regional School District will comply with state regulations mandating that the conclusion of the high school seniors’ school year and the graduation commencement may be no more than 12 school-working days before the regularly scheduled closing date of the high school.The State Board of Education encourages (603 CMR 27.05) and the Regional School Committee recommends scheduling the high school graduation as close as possible to the scheduled closing date of the high school in order to maximize the learning time offered to seniors and to minimize the disruption of instruction provided to other students.
LEGAL REF:
MGL 4:7 , 15:1G , 71:1 , 71:4A , 71:37 , 71:59 , 71:73 , 136:12 Board of Education Regulations for School Year and School Day
Board of Education, Student Learning Time Regulations
603 CMR 27.00
603 CMR 27.02
603 CMR 27.03
603 CMR 27.05