R277-419-4. Minimum School Days

  (1)(a) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(b) and Subsection 53F-2-102(7), an LEA shall conduct school for at least 990 instructional hours over a minimum of 180 school days each school year.

  (b) an LEA may seek an exception to the number of school days described in Subsection (1)(a):

  (i) except as provided in Subsection (1)(b)(ii), for a whole school or LEA as described in R277-121;

  (ii) for a school closure due to snow, inclement weather, or other emergency as described in R277-419-12; or

  (iii) for an individual student as described in Section R277-419-11.

  (2)(a) An LEA may offer the required school days and hours described in Subsection (1)(a) at any time during the school year, consistent with the law.

  (b) All school day calculations shall exclude lunch periods and pass time between classes but may include recess periods that include organization or instruction from school staff.

  (c) Each school day that satisfies the minimum hourly instruction time described in Subsection R277-419-2(31), shall count as a school day, regardless of the number or length of class periods or whether or not particular classes meet.

  (3)(a) An LEA shall plan for emergency, activity, and weather-related exigency time in its annual calendaring.

  (b) If school is closed for any reason, the school shall make up the instructional time missed under the emergency or activity time as part of the minimum required time to qualify for full Minimum School Program funding.

  (4) Minimum standards apply to all public schools in all settings unless Utah law or this rule provides for a specific exception.

  (5) An LEA's governing board shall provide adequate contingency school days and hours in the LEA's yearly calendar to avoid the necessity of requesting a waiver except in the most extreme circumstances.

  (6)(a) In addition to the allowance to use up to 32 instructional hours or four school days for professional learning described in Subsection 53F-2-102(6), to provide planning and professional development time for staff, an LEA may hold school longer some days of the week and shorter other days so long as minimum school day requirements, as provided for in this R277-419-4 and Subsection R277-419-2(32), are satisfied.

  (b) A school may conduct parent-teacher and student Plan for College and Career Readiness conferences during the school day.

  (c) Parent-teacher and college and career readiness conferences may only be held for a total of the equivalent of three full school days or a maximum of 16.5 hours for the school year.

  (d) Student membership for professional development or parent-teacher conference days shall be counted as that of the previous school day.

  (e) An LEA may designate no more than a total of 12 instructional days at the beginning of the school year, at the end of the school year, or both for the assessment of students entering or completing kindergarten.

  (f) If instruction days are designated for kindergarten assessment:

  (i) an LEA shall designate the days in an open meeting;

  (ii) an LEA shall provide adequate notice and explanation to kindergarten parents well in advance of the assessment period;

  (iii) qualified school employees shall conduct the assessment consistent with Section 53F-4-205; and

  (iv) assessment time per student shall be adequate to justify the forfeited instruction time.

  (g) The final decision and approval regarding planning time, parent-teacher and SEP conferences rests with an LEA, consistent with Utah law and Board administrative rules.

  (h) Total instructional time and school calendars shall be approved by an LEA in an open meeting.