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The Missouri State Board of Education has approved exemptions to a school start date requirement and the summer school hour requirement.
The board voted Tuesday to allow Margie Vandeven, commissioner of the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, to grant exemptions to local school districts on the start date law for the 2020-21 school year, the first year the law will go into effect.
Section 171.031 of Missouri statute requires each school district's opening date be no earlier than 14 calendar days before the first Monday in September. This year, that date is Aug. 24.
"The longer kids are away from the classroom and from instruction, the harder it is for them to catch up," Vandeven said. "That is particularly clear in our youngest learners and does create concern for us."
Some districts are considering rotating days for students to be in the building for social distancing purposes, and others have expressed they want to build in time early in case another COVID-19 outbreak occurs later, Vandeven said.
The law gives the State Board of Education the authority to grant an exemption from the start date law if a school district can demonstrate "highly unusual and extenuating circumstances justifying exemption."
To have the start date requirement waived, a district must demonstrate how the exemption will benefit students and minimize transmission of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. It also must demonstrate it gathered local input on the exemption.
For the state board to grant an exemption, the local school board must hold a public meeting to discuss the proposal during which a majority of the board must vote to allow an earlier opening date.
Vandeven said she received six emails from small business owners and the Missouri Canoe and Floaters Association that expressed concern the exemption could hurt the tourism industry and small businesses that rely on seasonal employees who are often high school students.
The board also voted to allow the commissioner to waive the 120-hour minimum summer school requirement for school districts this summer if a local education agency applies and demonstrates a lower number of hours will better serve its students.
Chris Neale, assistant commissioner for the Office of Quality Schools, said it may not be possible for schools to complete 120 hours of summer school this summer because of the start date change or a potential interruption due to COVID-19.
DESE recently assembled a Summer School Task Force comprised of school leaders from across the state. The task force provided three recommendations for summer school.
The first recommendation is "maximum flexibility," and it states "if an interruption occurs and the minimum 120 hours are not met, schools may submit a waiver request."
The other two recommendations are that DESE provide clear expectations for summer learning and for virtual summer school.
For more COVID-19 information from DESE, visit the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information page at dese.mo.gov.