Snow days could extend Delaware’s school year

 A group of kids enjoy one of Delaware's many snow days this year (file/NewsWorks)

A group of kids enjoy one of Delaware's many snow days this year (file/NewsWorks)

Students are starting the week with another snow day as weather forecasts call for several inches of snow in parts of the First State.

Most school districts have already taken several days off school this year due to inclement weather, which could mean adding days at the end of the school year.

Under the Delaware public education code, students and teachers must complete a minimum number of hours per school year. Kindergarten through 11th grade students must complete a minimum of 1,060 hours while high school seniors must complete a minimum of 1,032 hours.

According to the Delaware Department of Education, districts typically build extra days into the school calendar to ensure they meet those minimums, however if they exceed those days, they will have to add make up days.

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Districts can also choose to appeal to Education Secretary Mark Murphy to reduce the number of school hours due to unusual circumstances.

According to the Department of Education, Secretary Murphy hasn’t decided whether he will make that recommendation to districts this year.

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