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An Act To Give Maine Schools Additional Options To Make Up Missed School Days
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §4801, sub-§1, ¶F, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 60, §1, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
 
F.  In order for a school administrative unit to make up school days missed due to weather or emergency closures, a school administrative unit may:
 
(1) Reschedule or shorten scheduled vacation periods;
 
(2) Postpone the regular end of the school year;
 
(3) Conduct classes during the weekend;
 
(4) Operating under a plan approved by the commissioner, provide for a one-hour extension of the school day for up to 25 days in a school year. Notwithstanding the required number of school days under this subsection, 5 one-hour extensions may be counted as one additional school day. A school administrative unit may, with the approval of the commissioner pursuant to rules adopted in accordance with this subsection, implement extended days pursuant to this subparagraph; and
 
(5) Provide students with packets of homework the completion of which counts as completion of a regular school day.
 
A school administrative unit may develop ways to make up school days not included in this paragraph as long as they are incorporated into a plan approved by the commissioner.
 
SUMMARY
This bill includes in the statutes Department of Education rules governing how school administrative units may make up school days missed due to weather or emergency closures, including rescheduling or shortening scheduled vacation periods, postponing the scheduled closing date of school and conducting classes during the weekend. It also allows school administrative units to make up school days by providing students with packets of homework the completion of which counts as completion of a regular day of school and to develop ways to make up school days not included in law as long as they are incorporated into a plan approved by the Commissioner of Education.