The Commonwealth of Virginia requires 180 days of instruction and 990 hours of instructional time per year. With winter weather cancelling school for quite a few days in January, many are left wondering when the snow days will be made up. Here’s what we found out from a few of our school districts:
Virginia Beach:
Virginia Beach Public Schools has announced make-up days for times students were not in school during inclement weather.
School will be held on Saturdays over the next three months.
School will be in session on Feb, 15th, March 29th, and April 26th.
For secondary schools, Feb. 15 and April 26 will be A days and March 29 will be a B day.
Beach schools operate on a 183-day school year schedule as opposed to the state minimum. They say the extra days are not built in for inclement weather.
“Designating makeup days for time lost due to inclement weather is one of the most unpopular decisions a superintendent makes. There is never a day that is convenient for all of our students, staff and families,” Dr. Sheila Magula, superintendent of Virginia Beach Schools, said in a statement regarding the rescheduling. “We believe strongly that our role is to provide the best education possible for your children and we believe that is what this community expects. Please know that your patience, understanding and support are appreciated as we move forward.”
Chesapeake:
Banked days made up for Wednesday, January 29th and Thursday, January 30th. The only day left to make up is Friday, January 31st, which will be made up on March 31st. That day was originally scheduled to be a teacher workday.
Click here for more information about Chesapeake’s snow make-up schedule.
Norfolk:
Two inclement weather make-up days were built into the 2013-2014 calendar. Both have been used already.
Because of additional missed school time, President’s Day, Monday, February 17th, will be a regular school day for all students and staff.
They will also extend an early release day planned for Feb. 14th into a full day. The staff development that was planned for that afternoon has been reconfigured.
The weather related closings will delay second quarter report cards. Report cards will be distributed to all students on Friday, February 7; they were originally scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, February 4.
Feb. 3rd and 4th will be half days for high school students to finish first-semester exams. Exams for blocks 1 and 7 will happen on Monday and exams for blocks 6 and 8 will be taken on Tuesday.
Wednesday, Feb. 5th will be the start of the second semester and third quarter.
Portsmouth:
Two inclement weather make-up days are built into their calendar. Tuesday was supposed to be a teacher work day but will act as a make-up day for students. Should an additional make-up day be necessary, President’s Day (February 17th) will be considered.
Suffolk:
The first two days missed are covered by extra instructional hours and will not be made up.
The next four days missed will be made up as follows:
- Friday, Feb. 7 – Changed to a full day for students & staff;
Parent-Teacher Conferences can be scheduled on an individual basis as needed - Monday, Feb. 17 (Presidents’ Day) – Full day for students & staff
- Tuesday, March 4 – Full day for students & staff;
Professional Development Day cancelled - Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day) – Full day for students & staff
Make-up days for any future days missed will be determined by the School Board at that time.
Newport News:
One inclement weather day was built into the schedule and used. At this point, they are unsure how the additional days will be made up. They say they will examine how many hours of instruction were lost, or they will lose, and decide from there.
Hampton:
Hampton City Schools will make up days missed due to inclement weather on February 17th and April 21st.
The three days built into the calendar for inclement weather have already been used.
Isle of Wight County:
Below you will find the IWCS Complete Inclement Weather Make-Up Day Plan as of February 12, 2014:
- February 19: Full day for elementary schools (previously early dismissal )
- March 10 -14: Elementary schools will add 5 minutes at the end of each day for a dismissal time of 3:55 pm
- April 2: Full day for all students (No exams or early dismissal)
- April 3: Full day for all students (Exams begin/No early dismissal)
- April 4: Exam Day – 90 minute early dismissal for all students
Currituck County Schools has scheduled the following days for make up, due to weather related closures. (Friday, February 7th will NOT be used as a make up day due to training obligations.)
January 22 — February 24 make up
January 23 — March 28 make up
January 24 — June 12 make up (early release)
JPK Early College
January 22 — February 24 make up
January 23 — March 14 make up
January 24 — May 27 make up
The school district has made every effort to reschedule missed inclement weather days by using available workdays (February 7th is a protected workday), and the non day. Easter/Spring break is being avoided, if at all possible.
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