School Calendar School Year: IC
- Instruction: I
School Calendar School Year: IC
Prior to the end of the school year, the Superintendent must determine the length of time during which district schools must be in session during the next school year. The number of hours/days of planned teacher-student instruction and of teacher student contact must be consistent with the Superintendent's definition of "actively engaged in the educational process," must meet or exceed the requirements of state law, and must include a sufficient number of days to allow the superintendent flexibility in preparing a calendar that supports the district’s educational objectives.
The Superintendent defines "actively engaged in the educational process" as time when students are working toward achieving educational objectives under the supervision of a licensed teacher, including:
- classroom instruction time
- individual student work time while at school, including study hall and library research
- school-related field trips
- independent study insofar as such study is allowed under district policy
- assemblies
- recess time
The definition of “actively engaged in the educational process” includes all of the above and remote learning as a result of Emergency School Closure for students provided under the supervision of a certificated or licensed teacher. “Supervision of a certificated or licensed teacher” means a certificated or licensed educator, including teachers, counselors, paraprofessionals, or other certificated or licensed staff as assigned.
Synchronous and asynchronous teacher-pupil instruction and contact time may occur during remote learning and may include the use of: 27J approved online resources and programs, learning platforms, pre-recorded classes, assigned and prepared work packets, video conferencing, or other method(s) utilized by classroom teachers. Teacher-pupil instruction and contact time may be tracked and counted for attendance purposes occur in the following ways:
- Presence during in-person instruction;
- Assignments completed at home
- Presence during online synchronous learning experiences
- Asynchronous learning experiences completed at home;
- Logging into the online learning platform; File: IC/ICA
- Signing an online form attesting to work completed at home;
- Student demonstration of learning;
- Responding to teacher emails or communication.
Attendance will be recorded at least twice daily for days when instructional hours are provided, meaning a student is “actively engaged in the educational process.”
"Actively engaged in the educational process" does not include:
- lunch
- time students spend before school waiting for classes to begin and time after the last class of the day, including waiting for the bus
- teacher preparation time
- the passing period at the end of lunch
Supervision by a licensed teacher must not require that the teacher be in the student’s physical presence at all times, but that the teacher is exercising direction and control over the nature of the student’s activities.
The district will ensure that all students who are participating in remote learning will receive equitable instruction and services. Further, the district will ensure that equitable and appropriate instruction will continue to be offered to those students requiring accommodations.
The district calendar for the next school year must be prepared by the superintendent. The superintendent must consult with other districts in the area when preparing the calendar.
The Superintendent authorizes the administration in each school building to issue a school calendar based on the district calendar and in accordance with this policy. Administrators are encouraged to examine instruction time and calendar issues in the context of supporting the district’s educational objectives.
Calendars must include the dates for all staff in-service programs scheduled for the upcoming school year. The administration will allow public input from parents and teachers prior to scheduling the dates for staff in-service programs. A copy of the calendar must be provided to all parents/guardians of students enrolled in district schools. Any change in the calendar except for emergency closings or other unforeseen circumstances must be preceded by adequate and timely notice of no less than 30 days.
Revised August 10, 2023
July 29, 2021
August 19, 2020
LEGAL REFS.: C.R.S. 22-1-112 (school year and national holidays)
C.R.S. 22-32-109 (1)(n) (duty to determine school year and instruction hours)
C.R.S. 22-33-102 (1) (definition of academic year)
C.R.S. 22-33-104 (1) (compulsory attendance law) C.R.S. 22-44-115.5 (fiscal emergency)
1 CCR 301-39, Rules 2254-R-2.06 (school year and instruction hours; definition of contact/instruction time)
CROSS REFS.: EBCE, School Closings and Cancellations JH, Student Absences and Excuses