Russellville schools kicked off a 164-day school year, which will mean 10 fewer school days. But each of those days will be a half hour longer.
The change will lead to more than 1,100 hours of instruction for the year, which exceeds the state's minimum required 1,044 hours.
The change also allows the Cole R-1 district to add an eighth period for use in its "Response to Intervention" program.