Kansas students are spending fewer days in school than in previous decades, and the state’s top education official is pushing for changes to address the issue. Education Commissioner Randy Watson is urging school districts to cancel breaks or extend the academic year to make up for days lost to severe weather.
This winter, most districts missed about eight school days due to snow and extreme cold. Watson recently proposed solutions to the Kansas State Board of Education, including half-day summer school programs for students in kindergarten through third grade who are behind in reading or math. He emphasized the need to address learning losses that began even before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Recovery is happening, but it’s very slow,” Watson said. “We need to think about how to jumpstart learning right now.”
Current School Calendar Challenges
Kansas law requires public schools to operate for at least 186 days or 1,116 hours each academic year. However, over the past decade, many districts have shifted to longer school days with fewer total days. For example, in 2008, the average school year lasted 174 days. This year, it’s down to 166 days. Some districts, especially those with four-day weeks, have as few as 141 school days annually.
Watson noted that districts have added about 21 minutes to each school day, equating to three extra minutes per class period in high schools. However, he argued that more instructional days would be more beneficial than slightly longer class periods.
“Ask a music teacher: ‘Would you rather have three extra minutes or eight more school days?’ They’d choose the eight days,” Watson said.
Proposals to Make Up Lost Time
State law allows the Kansas State Board of Education to waive the minimum school day requirement due to weather or other factors. However, Watson discouraged waivers, suggesting districts instead cancel scheduled breaks or add days to the calendar.
“The board will review this at the end of the year,” Watson said. “Districts still have time to make up for lost days.”
Watson also proposed half-day summer school programs for struggling students. He suggested classes from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday, in June and July, with breaks for Memorial Day and July Fourth. This schedule would provide at least 48 additional hours of instruction.
“If 90% of students could get 48 to 49 extra hours of learning, imagine the progress we could make,” Watson said. He added that districts could use special education or state at-risk funds to cover the costs.
Year-Round Schooling: A Controversial Idea
Watson’s proposal stops short of year-round schooling, an idea that has been unpopular in Kansas. Two years ago, a bill proposing a minimum of 195 eight-hour school days failed to gain traction. Supporters argue that shorter, more frequent breaks reduce learning loss, while opponents cite higher costs and conflicts with extracurricular activities.
Watson said he isn’t opposed to year-round school but believes a targeted summer program is a more practical step. “Engaging parents in this conversation is easier than overhauling a system that’s been in place for 100 years,” he said.
Challenges in Implementation
Some Kansas districts have already used federal COVID-19 relief funds to expand summer programs, but participation has been low. For example, Wichita, the state’s largest district, invited 21,500 students to summer school in 2021 but only 4,600 enrolled, despite offering free meals and transportation.
Watson stressed the need for a cultural shift toward prioritizing academics. “If students are required to attend sports practices or band rehearsals, we should have the same commitment to academics,” he said.
As Kansas continues to address learning gaps, Watson’s proposals aim to balance immediate needs with long-term solutions, ensuring students have the time and support they need to succeed.
