Arkansas Schools Grapple with Missed Days Due to Winter Weather

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Arkansas students may have enjoyed the unexpected days off from school due to recent winter weather, but for educators, the closures pose a challenge in making up lost instructional time. Multiple school districts were forced to close last week after widespread ice, sleet and snow prompted a White House emergency declaration in the state. Changes in state law and a move away from virtual instruction used during the COVID-19 pandemic have created a patchwork of responses, with districts having discretion on when to close and how to make up lost days.

Why it matters

The recent winter weather disruptions highlight the ongoing challenges school districts face in balancing student safety, instructional time requirements, and innovative approaches to learning. As districts work to meet state-mandated minimums for in-person instruction days, the need for flexibility and creative solutions becomes increasingly important, especially in the face of extreme weather events.

The details

Multiple Arkansas school districts closed last week due to the winter weather, with some, like the Star City School District, closed for six days. Districts are required to provide a minimum of 178 days or 1,068 hours of instruction, and they have discretion in deciding when to close and how to make up lost time. Some, like the Waldron School District, offered excused absences when they reopened, while others, like the North Little Rock School District, welcomed students back with a delayed start. The state's education department has provided guidance, including allowing districts to use scheduled professional development days as makeup days or request a waiver to transition to an hourly calendar mid-year, which enables them to lengthen school days instead of adding days to the end of the year.

• Last week, multiple school districts in Arkansas closed due to widespread ice, sleet and snow.
• The Star City School District reopened on Tuesday after a six-day closure, which was longer than their typical two to three day closures.
• The Waldron School District in western Arkansas offered excused absences when it reopened on Monday without bus service.
• The North Little Rock School District welcomed students back on Tuesday with a one-hour delayed start time.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Little Rock School District plans to ask its school board to convert three non-student days in February and March into contact days that could be used to make up lost instructional time.