The West Virginia Legislature recently passed Senate Bill 890, which introduces a significant change in how school calendars are developed across our state. The legislation shifts schools from a requirement of 180 instructional days to a requirement of 900 instructional hours annually. This change provides counties with greater flexibility in designing school calendars while still ensuring students receive the instructional time they need.
Beginning July 1, 2027, counties will have the opportunity to explore new calendar options while meeting the state’s instructional hour requirements. The bill also includes flexibility for educator-focused professional learning opportunities and emphasizes instructional hours rather than simply counting days on the calendar.
As we begin exploring options for the 2027-2028 school year, our focus remains on providing high-quality instruction for students, maintaining strong professional learning opportunities for staff, supporting families with predictable schedules and ensuring students continue to have access to school meals.
An important consideration is our commitment to providing students with consistent access to both breakfast and lunch each school day, and we believe maintaining student attendance on instructional days best supports both learning and student well-being.
Possible calendar options under consideration: To utilize the flexibility provided under Senate Bill 890, we are considering options that would allow teachers dedicated time for collaboration, planning, and professional development while minimizing disruptions for students and families.
Option 1: Monthly Early Release — Students would be dismissed early one day each month.
Option 2: Monthly Three-Hour Delay — Students would arrive three hours later one day each month.
Both options would allow our schools to invest in continuous improvement while continuing to meet the state’s instructional hour requirements. For consistency and ease of planning, the choice will be between the two options and not be a mix of early release or three-hour delays.
Once we take a close look at data, we may also decide that some months will not include a teacher meeting day. Once we take a close look at data, we may also decide that some months will not include a teacher meeting day.
Weather remains an important consideration in our planning. While Senate Bill 890 focuses on instructional hours rather than instructional days, weather will continue to play a major role in calendar planning.
As a county that often experiences winter weather conditions, we must carefully consider the number of instructional hours available and build flexibility into the calendar.
Any proposed schedule must account for the possibility of school closures, delays, and other unforeseen circumstances throughout the school year. Meeting the required 900 instructional hours will remain a priority, and weather-related disruptions will be an important consideration as we consider calendar options.
We are asking for everyone’s input. Before any decisions are made for the 2027-2028 school calendar, we want to hear from our families, staff, students and community members. Your feedback will be greatly appreciated as we work to create a calendar that best serves students, families, and staff while meeting the requirements established by Senate Bill 890. Please feel free to contact Nicole Hevener (nh******@****wv.us) or Kristy Tritapoe (kr*************@****wv.us) with your insights.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support of our schools. Together, we can develop a calendar that strengthens instruction, supports our educators, and continues to meet the needs of our students and community.
