Hawaii Legislature passes measure aimed at lengthening shortest-in-nation school year
By APTuesday, April 27, 2010
Hawaii lawmakers pass bill to increase school year
HONOLULU — Hawaii’s shortest-in-the-nation school year will substantially increase under legislation that has been passed by lawmakers.
The state’s public school year had been 180 days until the current year, when a tight state budget led to teacher furloughs that closed campuses on 17 of those days this school year and next.
The bill requires a minimum of 180 school days starting in the 2011-2012 school year and gradually ramps up the required number of annual instructional hours.
It also asks the state and labor union to write a proposal to eventually increase the minimum number of instructional days to 190.
The measure passed the House and Senate on Tuesday. It now goes to Gov. Linda Lingle, who hasn’t said whether she will sign it.
The bill is HB2486.
