The state Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday to approve more than 200 requests from schools for non-instructional days, decreasing the number of hours students will spend in the classroom for the 2022-23 school year.
Of the 203 approved requests, 189, or 93%, will result in a loss of student instructional hours.
A majority of the requests will increase the number of professional development days for staff, where students are not present on campus.
For the Big Island, 16 different schools requested a total of 46 non-instructional days for professional development, while 11 schools requested 29 days for parent-teacher conferences.
The statewide requests more than tripled those approved last year by the BOE.
Board of Education members Lyla Berg and Cara Tanimura postulated in their report Thursday that the significant increase could be the result of schools needing additional professional development days to combat COVID-related academic struggles.
Student Achievement Data disclosed earlier in the Board of Education meeting on Thursday indicated the pandemic has taken a toll on Hawaii public school students academically.
The Student Achievement Committee Report showed during the second quarter between Oct. 18 and Dec. 17 of last year, 52.9% of elementary students statewide tested one or more grade levels below their current level in English, and 60.5% tested one or more below their current grade level in math. For middle school students, 61.3% tested one or more grade levels below their current level in English, and 62.3% tested one or more below their current grade level in math.
Berg and Tanimura’s report acknowledges “schools have also stated that teachers and staff need extended periods of time to analyze student data, create formative assignments, meet with Response to Intervention teams, and develop Tier 1 strategies aligned with the Hawaii Multi-Tiered Systems of Support.”
But the report lists a potential concern that “less student instructional days may make it difficult for students, especially vulnerable learners, to make gains in their academic achievement.”
Out of all the schools making the requests for more non-instructional days, “only two were flagged because the instructional minutes appeared to be compromising the well-being of the students,” Berg said during the meeting. “We, myself included being part of this team, went back to the schools and explained the concerns and gave them alternatives. They agreed. So, actually, all of the waivers met the criteria.”
The requests for non-instructional days have been reviewed and approved by school administrations, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, the SCC and respective Complex Area superintendents, as well as vetted by the SCC Exception Review Committee.
“The Office of Strategy, Innovation and Performance put together a matrix that was so comprehensive and clear, it was very impressive,” said Berg, who worked with the group to manage the requests from 162 different schools.
State law requires a 180-day, 1080-hour school year, excluding professional development and other non-instructional days. Requests, or waivers, can be granted by the BOE to individual schools hoping to lower the number of required hours or days in favor of professional development days, parent-teacher conferences, graduation practices or other circumstances.
Email Grant Phillips at gphillips@hawaiitribune-herald.com