The Board of Trustees shall fix the length of the school day subject to the provisions of law. (Education Code 46100)
(cf. 6111 - School Calendar)
The length of the school day shall apply equally to students with disabilities unless otherwise specified in the student's individualized education program or Section 504 plan.
(cf. 6159 - Individualized Education Program)
(cf. 6164.6 - Identification and Education Under Section 504)
The schedule for elementary schools shall include at least one daily period of recess of at least 15-20 minutes in length in order to provide students with unstructured but supervised opportunities for physical activity.
(cf. 5030 - Student Wellness)
(cf. 6142.7 - Physical Education and Activity)
In establishing the daily instructional schedule for each secondary school, the Superintendent or designee shall give consideration to course requirements and curricular demands, availability of school facilities, and applicable legal requirements.
The Board encourages flexibility in scheduling so as to provide longer time blocks or class periods when appropriate and desirable to support student learning, provide more intensive study of core academic subjects or extended exploration of complex topics, and reduce transition time between classes.
Prior to implementing a block schedule program in which secondary students attend class for fewer school days, the Board shall consult with the certificated and classified employees of the school in a good faith effort to reach agreement and shall also consult with parents/guardians of the students who would be affected by the change and the community at large. Such consultation shall include at least one public hearing for which the Board has given adequate notice to the employees and to the parents/guardians of affected students. (Education Code 46162)
(cf. 9320 - Meetings and Notices)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
8970-8974 Early primary program, including extended-day kindergarten
37202 Equal time in all schools
37670 Year-round schools
46010 Total days of attendance
46100 Length of school day
46110-46119 Kindergarten and elementary schools, day of attendance
46140-46147 Junior high school and high school, day of attendance
46160-46162 Alternative schedule - junior high and high school
46170 Continuation schools, minimum day
46180 Opportunity schools, minimum day
46190-46192 Adult education classes, day of attendance
46200-46206 Incentives for longer instructional day and year
48200 Compulsory attendance for minimum school day
48663 Community day school, minimum school day
48800-48802 Concurrent enrollment in community college
51222 Physical education, instructional minutes
51760-51769.5 Work experience education
52325 Regional occupational center, minimum day
Management Resources:
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR SPORT AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION POSITION STATEMENTS
Recess for Elementary School Students, 2006
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY STATEMENTS
99-03 Physical Education (PE) Requirements for Block Schedules, July 2006
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
Extending Learning Time for Disadvantaged Students, August 1995
WEST ED PUBLICATIONS
Full-Day Kindergarten: Expanding Learning Opportunities, Policy Brief, April 2005
WEB SITES
California Department of Education: http://www.cde.ca.gov
National Association for Sport and Physical Education: http://www.aahperd.org/naspe
State Board of Education: http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/lr/wr/waiverpolicies.asp
U.S. Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov
WestEd: http://www.wested.org
Policy LANCASTER SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: June 4, 2013 Lancaster, California