Kindergarten/Transitional Kindergarten
Kindergarten and transitional kindergarten (TK) classes in district schools may be maintained for different lengths of time, either at the same or different school sites. (Education Code 37202)
Except as otherwise permitted by law, the average school day established for kindergarten and TK students shall be at least three hours, including recesses but excluding noon intermissions, but no longer than four hours, excluding recesses. (Education Code 46111, 46114, 46115, 46117)
Recess may be counted as instructional minutes for purposes of determining the maximum school day if it occurs under teacher supervision.
In any multitrack year-round school operating pursuant to Education Code 37670, the kindergarten school day may be up to 265 minutes, excluding recesses. (Education Code 46111)
(cf. 6117 - Year-Round Schedules)
In any district school operating an early primary program pursuant to Education Code 8970-8974, the kindergarten school day may exceed four hours, excluding recess, if both of the following conditions are met: (Education Code 8973)
1. The Board of Trustees has declared that the extended-day kindergarten program does not exceed the length of the primary school day.
2. The extended-day kindergarten program includes ample opportunity for both active and quiet activities within an integrated, experiential, and developmentally appropriate educational program.
The Superintendent or designee shall annually report to the California Department of Education as to whether the district's kindergarten and TK programs are offered full day, part day, or both. (Education Code 48003)
Grades 1-8
Except as otherwise provided by law, the school day for elementary and middle school students shall be:
1. At least 230 minutes for students in grades 1-3, unless the Board has prescribed a shorter school day because of lack of school facilities requiring double sessions, in which case the minimum school day shall be 200 minutes (Education Code 46112)
2. At least 240 minutes for students in grades 4-8 (Education Code 46113, 46142)
In determining the number of minutes for purposes of compliance with the minimum school day for students in grades 1-8, both noon intermissions and recesses shall be excluded. (Education Code 46115)
Regulation LANCASTER SCHOOL DISTRICT
approved: December 12, 2017 Lancaster, California