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 Governing Board 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)
Grades 9-12
The school day for students in grades 9-12 shall be at least 240 minutes. (Education Code 46141, 46142)
However, the school day may be less than 240 minutes when authorized by law. Programs that have a minimum school day of 180 minutes include, but are not necessarily limited to:
1. Continuation high school or classes (Education Code 46141, 46170)
(cf. 6184 - Continuation Education)
2. Opportunity school or classes (Education Code 46141, 46180)
3. Regional occupational center (Education Code 46141, 52325)
(cf. 6178.2 - Regional Occupational Center/Program)
4. Work experience education program approved pursuant to Education Code 51760-51769.5 (Education Code 46141, 46144)
A student in grade 12 who is enrolled in work experience education and is in his/her last semester or quarter before graduation may be permitted to attend school for less than 180 minutes per school day if he/she would complete all requirements for graduation, except physical education courses, in less than 180 minutes each day. (Education Code 46147)
(cf. 6178.1 - Work-Based Learning)
5. Concurrent enrollment in a community college pursuant to Education Code 48800-48802 or, for students in grades 11-12, part-time enrollment in classes of the California State University or University of California, provided academic credit will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of enrolled courses (Education Code 46146)
(cf. 6172.1 - Concurrent Enrollment in College Classes)
6. An early college high school or middle college high school, provided the students are enrolled in community college or college classes in accordance with item #5 above (Education Code 46141, 46146.5)
7. Special day or Saturday vocational training program conducted under a federally approved plan for career technical education (Education Code 46141, 46144)
(cf. 6178 - Career Technical Education)
8. Adult education classes (Education Code 46190)
(cf. 6200 - Adult Education)
For an evening high school operated pursuant to Education Code 51720-51724, the number of days, specific days of the week, and number of hours during which the program shall be in session may be determined by the Board. (Education Code 46141, 51721)
Students in grade 12 shall be enrolled in at least five courses each semester or the equivalent number of courses each quarter. This requirement shall not apply to students enrolled in regional occupational centers or programs, courses at accredited postsecondary institutions, independent study, special education programs in which the student's individualized education program establishes a different number of courses, continuation education classes, work experience education programs, or any other course of study authorized by the Board that is equivalent to the approved high school course of study. (Education Code 46145)
(cf. 6158 - Independent Study)
(cf. 6159 - Individualized Education Program)
Alternative Block Schedule for Secondary Schools
In order to establish a block or other alternative schedule or to accommodate career technical education and regional occupational center/program courses, the district may authorize students to attend fewer than the total number of days in which school is in session provided that students attend classes for at least 1,200 minutes during any five school day period or 2,400 minutes during any 10 school day period. (Education Code 46160)
An early college high school or middle college high school may be scheduled so that students attend classes for at least 900 minutes during any five-school day period or 1,800 minutes during any 10-school day period. (Education Code 46160)
Regulation WAUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
approved: November 14, 2017 Petaluma, California