279.10 - SCHOOL YEAR -- BEGINNING DATE -- EXCEPTIONS -- PILOT PROGRAMS.
279.10 SCHOOL YEAR -- BEGINNING DATE -- EXCEPTIONS --
PILOT PROGRAMS.
1. The school year shall begin on the first day of July and each
regularly established elementary and secondary school shall begin no
sooner than a day during the calendar week in which the first day of
September falls but no later than the first Monday in December.
However, if the first day of September falls on a Sunday, school may
begin on a day during the calendar week which immediately precedes
the first day of September. School shall continue for at least one
hundred eighty days, except as provided in subsection 3, and may be
maintained during the entire calendar year. However, if the board of
directors of a district extends the school calendar because inclement
weather caused the district to temporarily close school during the
regular school calendar, the district may excuse a graduating senior
who has met district or school requirements for graduation from
attendance during the extended school calendar. A school corporation
may begin employment of personnel for in-service training and
development purposes before the date to begin elementary and
secondary school.
2. The board of directors shall hold a public hearing on any
proposal prior to submitting it to the department of education for
approval.
3. The board of directors of a school district may request
approval from the department of education for a pilot program for an
innovative school year. The number of days per year that school is
in session may be more or less than those specified in subsection 1,
but the innovative school year shall provide for an equivalent number
of total hours that school is in session.
The board shall file a request for approval with the department
not later than November 1 of the preceding school year. The request
shall include a listing of the savings and goals to be attained under
the innovative school year subject to rules adopted by the department
under chapter 17A. The department shall notify the districts of the
approval or denial of pilot programs not later than the next
following January 15.
A request to continue an innovative school year pilot project
after its initial year also shall include an evaluation of the
savings and impacts on the educational program in the district.
Participation in a pilot project shall not modify provisions of a
master contract negotiated between a school district and a certified
bargaining unit pursuant to chapter 20 unless mutually agreed upon.
4. The director of the department of education may grant a
request made by a board of directors of a school district stating its
desire to commence classes for regularly established elementary and
secondary schools prior to the earliest starting date specified in
subsection 1. A request shall be based upon the determination that a
starting date on or after the earliest starting date specified in
subsection 1 would have a significant negative educational impact.
Section History: Early Form
[R60, § 2023, 2037; C73, § 1724, 1727; C97, § 2773; S13, § 2773;
C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, § 4226; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75,
77, 79, 81, § 279.10] Section History: Recent Form
83 Acts, ch 17, § 1, 3, 4; 85 Acts, ch 6, § 1, 2; 86 Acts, ch
1245, § 1467; 88 Acts, ch 1087, § 1; 88 Acts, ch 1259, § 1; 90 Acts,
ch 1272, § 68; 94 Acts, ch 1020, §1
Referred to in § 256.20, 256F.4, 257.17, 299.1, 299.4