Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §4801, sub-§1, ¶F, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 60, §1, is amended to read:
F. A school administrative unit operating under a plan approved by the commissioner may provide for a one-hour extension of the school day for up to 25 days in a school year. Notwithstanding the required number of school days under this subsection, 5 one-hour extensions may be counted as one additional school day. A school administrative unit may, with the approval of the commissioner pursuant to rules adopted in accordance with this subsection, implement extended days pursuant to this paragraph only for the purpose of making up school days missed due to weather or emergency closures. A school administrative unit may develop other ways to make up school days missed due to weather or emergency closures not included in this paragraph as long as they are incorporated into a plan approved by the commissioner.’
summary
This amendment strikes the provisions in the bill that propose to add to the statutes provisions in Department of Education rules governing how school administrative units may make up school days missed due to weather or emergency closures, including rescheduling or shortening scheduled vacation periods, postponing the scheduled closing date of school and conducting classes during the weekend. The amendment also strikes the provision allowing school administrative units to make up school days by providing students with packets of homework the completion of which counts as completion of a regular day of school. The amendment leaves in place the provision allowing school administrative units to develop other ways to make up school days missed due to weather or emergency closures not included in law as long as they are incorporated into a plan approved by the Commissioner of Education.