School Board Policy 602 -
Organization of School Calendar and School Day

Adopted: September 8, 1997
Revised: June 11, 2001
Revised: May 9, 2005
Revised: December 10, 2012
Revised: May 9, 2016
Revised: December 14, 2020
Revised: September 11, 2023

I. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide for a timely determination of the school calendar and school day.

II. General Statement of Policy

It is important to parents/guardians, students, employees, and the general public to have advance knowledge of the school calendar and school day to effectively plan for the school year.

III. Calendar Responsibility 

A. The school calendar shall be adopted annually by the School Board in accordance with Minnesota Statute. It shall meet all provisions of Minnesota statutes pertaining to minimum number of school days, hours, and other provisions of law. The school calendar shall establish student days, workshop days for staff, allow for emergency closings and provide other information related to students, staff and parents/guardians.

B. Except for learning programs during summer and flexible learning year programs, the school district will not commence an elementary or secondary school year before Labor Day, except as provided in Section III.B.1., III.B.2., or III.B.3. Teacher workshop days may be held before Labor Day.

1. The school district may begin the school year on any day before Labor Day to accommodate a construction or remodeling project of $400,000 or more affecting a school district school facility.

2. The school district may begin the school year on any day before Labor Day if the school district has an agreement under Minnesota Statutes, section 123A.30, 123A.32, or 123A.35 with a school district that qualifies under Section III.B.1.

3. The school district may begin the school year on any day before Labor Day if the school district agrees to the same schedule with a school district in an adjoining state.

C. Employee and advisory groups shall be provided an opportunity to participate in school calendar considerations through a meet and confer or other process.

IV. School Day Responsibility

A. The superintendent shall be responsible for developing a schedule for the student day, subject to review by the School Board. All requirements and provisions of Minnesota Statutes and Minnesota Department of Education Rules shall be met.

B. In developing the student day schedule, the superintendent shall consider the successful implementation of the current calendar and such factors as cooperative programs, differences in time requirements at various grade levels, effective utilization of facilities, cost effectiveness, school bus schedules, and other concerns deserving of attention.

C. Proposed changes in the school day shall be subject to review and approval by the School Board.

V. E-Learning Days

A.  An "e-learning day" is a school day where a school offers full access to online instruction provided by students' individual teachers due to inclement weather. 

B.  A school district may designate up to five e-learning days in one school year. 

C.  An e-learning day is counted as a day of instruction and included in the hours of instruction pursuant to Section III. A, above.

D.  The School Board may adopt an e-learning day plan after consultation with the exclusive representative of the teachers. The e-learning day plan developed by the school district will include accommodations for students without internet access at home and for digital device access for families without the technology or with an insufficient amount of technology for the number of children in the household. The plan must also provide accessible options for students with disabilities.

E.  The school district must notify parents and students of its e-learning day plan at the beginning of each school year. 

F.  When an e-learning day is declared by the school district, notice must be provided to parents and students at least two hours prior to the normal school start time that students will need to follow the e-learning day plan for that day.

G.  On an e-learning day, each student's teacher must be accessible both online and by telephone during normal school hours to assist students and parents. 

H. When the school district declares an e-learning day, it must continue to pay the full wages for scheduled work hours and benefits of all school employees for the duration of the e-learning period. During the e-learning period, school employees must be allowed to work from home to the extent practicable, be assigned to work in an alternative location, or be retained on an on-call basis for any potential need.

Legal References:
Minn. Stat. § 10.55 (Juneteenth)
Minn. Stat. § 120A.40 (School Calendar)
Minn. Stat. § 120A.41 (Length of School Year; Days of Instruction)
Minn. Stat. § 120A.414 (E-Learning Days)
Minn. Stat. § 120A.415 (Extended School Calendar)
Minn. Stat. § 120A.42 (conduct of School on Certain Holidays)
Minn. Stat. § 122A.40, Subds. 7 and 7a (Employment, Contracts; Termination)
Minn. Stat. § 122A.41, Subds, 4 and 4a (Teacher Tenure Act; Cities of the First Class; Definitions)
Minn. Stat. § 123A.30 (Agreements for Secondary Education)
Minn. Stat. § 123A.32 (Interdistrict Cooperation)
Minn. Stat. § 123A.35 (Cooperation and Combination)
Minn. Stat. § 124D.126 (Powers and Duties of Commissioner; Flexible Learning Year Programs)
Minn. Stat. § 124D.151 (Voluntary Prekindergarten Program)
Minn. Stat. § 14E.25 (Payment of Aids to Charter Schools)
Minn. Stat. § 127A.41, Subd. 7 (Distribution of School Aids; Appropriation)
Minn. Stat. § 645.44 (Words and Phrases Defined)

Cross References:
WBLASB Policy 425 (Staff Development and Mentoring)