Minimum number of days per school year | Minimum number of hours per school year | Minimum number of hours per school day | School start/finish | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | 180 days Notes: District option to meet either minimum hours/year or minimum days/year. Citations: Ala.Code 1975 § 16-13-231 |
1,080 hours Citations: Ala.Code 1975 § 16-13-231 |
6 hours Notes: Excludes lunch and recess. Citations: Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-3-1-.02 |
District option |
Alaska | 180 days Notes: District option to meet either minimum hours/year or minimum days/year. Citations: AS § 14.03.030 |
Grades K-3 ~ 740 hours Grades 4-12 ~ 900 hours Notes: For all grades, hours only apply if board submits an acceptable plan under which students will receive the educational equivalent of 180 days. Citations: AS § 14.03.030 |
Grades 1-3 ~ 4 hours Grades 4-12 ~ 5 hours Notes: Excludes intermissions. Citations: AS § 14.03.040 |
District option |
Arizona | 180 days Citations: A.R.S. § 15-341.01 |
Half-day K ~ 356 hours Grades 1-3 ~ 712 hours Grades 4-6 ~ 890 hours Grades 7-8 ~ 1000 hours Grades 9-12 ~ 720 hours Notes: Excludes lunch and recess for grades K-8. Students in grades 9-12 must enroll in at least 4 subjects, in addition to the hour requirement. Citations: A.R.S. § 15-901 |
N/A | District option |
Arkansas | 178 days Notes: Includes a minimum of 10 days (60 hours) professional development/in-service and a minimum of 2 days for parent/teacher conferences. Citations: 2009 Rules Governing Standards for Accreditation |
N/A | 6 hours/day 30 hours/week Citations: A.C.A. § 6-16-102 |
Start: On or after the Monday of the week in which 8/19 falls. No earlier than 8/14 and no later than 8/26. Citations: A.C.A. § 6-10-106 |
California | 180 days Notes: Charter schools and select districts are required 175 days. More details may be found at: https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/pa/lcffitfaq.asp Citations: West's Ann.Cal.Educ.Code § 46200, 41420 |
Kindergarten ~ 600 hours Grades 1-3 ~ 840 hours Grades 4-8 ~ 900 hours Grades 9-12 ~ 1,080 hours Notes: State specifies instructional time in minutes. More details may be found at: https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/pa/lcffitfaq.asp Citations: West's Ann.Cal.Educ.Code § 46201, 46201.5, 46207 |
Kindergarten ~ 3 hours Grades 1-3 ~ 3.83 hours Grades 4-12 ~ 4 hours Notes: State specifies instructional time in minutes. Citations: West's Ann.Cal.Educ.Code § 46112, 46113, 46114, 46117, 46141 |
District option |
Colorado | 160 days Citations: C.R.S.A. § 22-32-109 |
Half-day K ~ 435 hours Full-day K ~ 870 hours Grades 1-5 ~ 968 hours Grades 6-12 ~ 1,056 hours Notes: Excludes parent-teacher conferences and staff in-service programs. Citations: C.R.S.A. § 22-32-109 |
N/A | District option |
Connecticut | 180 days Citations: C.G.S.A. § 10-16 |
Half-day K ~ 450 hours Full-day K-12 ~ 900 hours Citations: C.G.S.A. § 10-16 |
N/A Notes: Districts may count up to 7 hours/day toward the total required for the year. Citations: C.G.S.A. § 10-16 |
District option |
Delaware | N/A | Grades K-11 ~ 1,060 hours Grade 12 ~ 1,032 hours Citations: 14 Del.C. § 1049 |
3.5 hours Notes: Excludes lunch. Citations: 14 Del.C. § 1049 |
District option |
District of Columbia | 180 days Citations: D.C. Mun. Regs. Subt. 5-A, § A2100.3, Subt. 5-E 305 |
N/A | Grades 1-12 ~ 6 hours Notes: Includes lunch and recess. Citations: D.C. Mun. Regs. Subt. 5-A, § A2100.3 |
District option (single district) Citations: D.C. Mun. Regs. Subt. Subt. 5-E 305 |
Florida | 180 days Notes: District option to meet either minimum hours/year or minimum days/year. Citations: West's F.S.A. § 1003.02, 1001.42 |
Grades K-3 ~ 720 hours Grades 4-12 ~ 900 hours Citations: West's F.S.A. § 1011.61 |
N/A | District option |
Georgia | 180 days Notes: Or equivalent. Citations: Ga. Code Ann., § 20-2-168 |
N/A | Grades K-3 ~ 4.5 hours Grades 4-5 ~ 5 hours Grades 6-12 ~ 5.5 hours Citations: Ga Comp. R. & Regs. 160-5-1-.02 |
District option |
Hawaii | 180 days Notes: Excludes professional development and other non-instructional days. Does not apply to charter and multi-track schools. Citations: HRS § 302A-251 |
1,080 hours Notes: Does not apply to charter and multi-track schools. Citations: HRS § 302A-251 |
N/A | District option (single district) |
Idaho | District option Citations: I.C. § 33-512 |
Kindergarten ~ 450 hours Grades 1-3 ~ 810 hours Grades 4-8 ~ 900 hours Grades 9-12 ~ 990 hours Notes: Includes up to 22 hours for staff development. Excludes recess, lunch and passing periods. Citations: I.C. § 33-512 |
District option Citations: I.C. § 33-512 |
District option |
Illinois | 180 days Notes: Includes up to 4 professional development days. Citations: 105 ILCS 5/10-19.1 |
N/A | Half-day K ~ 2 hours Full-day K-1 ~ 4 hours Grades 2-12 ~ 5 hours Citations: 105 ILCS 5/18-8.05(F) |
District option |
Indiana | 180 days Notes: 0 Citations: IC 20-30-2-3 |
N/A | Grades 1-6 ~ 5 hours Grades 7-12 ~ 6 hours Citations: IC 20-30-2-2 |
District option |
Iowa | 180 days Notes: District option to meet either minimum hours/year or minimum days/year. Citations: I.C.A. § 279.10 |
1,080 hours Citations: I.C.A. § 279.10 |
Grades 1-12 ~ 6 hours/day or 30 hours/week Notes: Excludes lunch. Includes parent-teacher conferences and passing periods. Citations: I.C.A. § 256.7 |
Start: No sooner than August 23 and no later than the first Monday in December. Citations: I.C.A. § 279.10 |
Kansas | Grades K-11 ~ 186 days Grade 12 ~ 181 days Notes: District option to meet either minimum hours/year or minimum days/year. Citations: K.S.A. 72-3115 |
Kindergarten ~ 465 hours Grades 1-11 ~ 1116 hours Grade 12 ~ 1086 hours Citations: K.S.A. 72-3115 |
5 hours Citations: K.S.A. 72-3120 |
District option |
Kentucky | 170 days Notes: 185-day calendar that includes 170 instructional days, plus 4 days for professional development. Citations: KRS § 158.070 |
1,062 hours Citations: KRS § 158.070 |
6 hours Citations: KRS § 158.060 |
District option Citations: 702 Ky. Admin. Regs. 7:140 |
Louisiana | 177 days Notes: District option to meet either minimum hours/year or minimum days/year. Early dismissal of seniors allowed up to 10 instructional days. Citations: LSA-R.S. 17:154.1 |
1,062 hours Notes: State specifies instructional time in minutes. Citations: La. Admin Code. tit. 28, Pt CXV, § 333 |
Grades 1-12 ~ 6 hours Notes: Excludes lunch, recess, passing periods and parent-teacher conferences. State specifies instructional time in minutes. Citations: LSA-R.S. 17:154.1 La. Admin Code. tit. 28, Pt CXV, § 333 |
District option |
Maine | 175 days Notes: Students in grade 12 may have their year reduced to 170 days. Citations: 20-A M.R.S.A. § 4801; 05-071 CMR Ch. 125, § 6.02 |
N/A | Kindergarten ~ 2.5 hours Grades 1-12 ~ 5 hours Notes: Minumum length of a day is 3 hours, but the average over a 2-week period must be at least 5 hours. Citations: 05-071 CMR Ch. 125, § 6.02 |
District option |
Maryland | 180 days Notes: 0 Citations: MD Code, Education, § 7-103 |
1,080 hours 1,170 hours for public high schools Citations: MD Code, Education, § 7-103 COMAR 13A.03.02.12 |
N/A Notes: Schools must be open for pupil attendance for at least 3 hours. Citations: MD Code, Education, § 7-103 |
District option |
Massachusetts | N/A Notes: Schools must operate at least 180 days/year. Instructional time measured in hours. Citations: M.G.L.A. 69 § 1G; 603 CMR 27.03 |
Kindergarten ~ 425 hours Grades 1-5 ~ 900 hours Grades 6-12 ~ 990 hours Notes: Excludes lunch, recess, passing periods, homeroom, non-directed study periods and time spent receiving school services or participating in optional school programs. Citations: 603 CMR 27.03 603 CMR 27.04 |
N/A | District option |
Michigan | 180 days Notes: If a collective bargaining agreement that provides a complete school calendar was in effect, then this does not apply until after the expiration of that collective bargaining agreement. Citations: M.C.L.A. 388.1701 |
1,098 hours Citations: M.C.L.A. 388.1701 |
N/A | Start: No earlier than Labor Day. Citations: M.C.L.A. 380.1284b |
Minnesota | Grades 1-11 ~ 165 days Citations: M.S.A. § 120A.41 |
Kindergarten ~ 425 hours Full-day K ~ 850 hours Grades 1-6 ~ 935 hours Grades 7-12 ~ 1,020 hours Citations: M.S.A. § 120A.41 |
N/A | Start: No earlier than Labor Day. Citations: M.S.A. § 120A.40 |
Mississippi | 180 days Citations: Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-63 |
N/A | 5.5 hours/day Citations: Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-67 |
District option Citations: Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-61 |
Missouri | 5-day week ~ 174 days 4-day week ~ 142 days Citations: V.A.M.S. 171.031 |
Kindergarten ~ 522 hours Grades 1-12 ~ 1,044 hours Citations: V.A.M.S. 171.031 V.A.M.S. 163.021 |
5-day week ~ 3 hours/day 4-day week ~ 4 hours/day Citations: V.A.M.S. 160.041 |
Start: No earlier than 10 days prior to first Monday in September. Citations: V.A.M.S. 171.031 |
Montana | N/A | Half-day K ~ 360 hours Full-day K-3 ~ 720 hours Grades 4-12 ~ 1,080 hours Notes: Includes an additional 3 days for instructional and professional development. For graduating seniors, 1,050 hours. Citations: MCA 20-1-301 Mont.Admin.R. 10.65.101 |
N/A | District option |
Nebraska | N/A | Kindergarten ~ 400 hours Grades 1-8 ~ 1,032 hours Grades 9-12 ~ 1,080 hours Citations: Neb. Rev.St. § 79-211, 212 |
N/A | District option |
Nevada | 180 days Notes: May include up to 5 days for professional development with approval from superintendent of public instruction. Citations: N.R.S. 388.090; Nev. Admin. Code 387.120 |
N/A | Kindergarten ~ 2 hours Grades 1-2 ~ 4 hours Grades 3-6 ~ 5 hours Grades 7-12 ~ 5.5 hours Notes: Includes recess and time between lessons. Excludes lunch. Citations: Nev. Admin. Code 387.131 |
District option |
New Hampshire | 180 days Notes: District option to meet either minimum hours/year or minimum days/year. High school seniors’ school year may be reduced by up to 5 days or 30 hours Citations: N.H. Rev. Stat. § 189:1, 24; N.H. Code Admin. R. 306.18 |
Kindergarten ~ 450 hours Elementary schools ~ 945 hours Middle and high schools ~ 990 hours Citations: N.H. Code Admin. R. 306.18 |
Elementary schools ~ 5.75 hours Middle and high schools ~ 6 hours Notes: May include up to 30 minutes of recess per day for elementary schools. Citations: N.H. Code Admin. R. 306.18 |
District option |
New Jersey | 180 days Citations: N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-9 |
N/A | Full-day K ~ 2.5 hours Grades 1-12 ~ 4 hours Citations: N.J.A.C. 6A:32–8.3 |
District option |
New Mexico | N/A | Half-day K ~ 450 hours Full-day K-6 ~ 990 hours Grades 7-12 ~ 1080 hours Notes: 33 hours of the full-day K program and 22 hours of grades 1-6 may be used for home visits by the teacher or for parent-teacher conferences. 12 hours of grades 7-12 may be used to consult with parents or for parent-teacher conferences. Citations: N. M. S. A. 1978, § 22-2-8.1 |
Half-day K ~ 2.5 hours Full-day K-6 ~ 5.5 hours Grades 7-12 ~ 6 hours Citations: N. M. S. A. 1978, § 22-2-8.1 |
District option |
New York | 180 days Citations: McKinney's Education Law § 3604 |
N/A | Half-day K ~ 2.5 hours Full-day K-6 ~ 5 hours Grades 7-12 ~ 5.5 hours Citations: Rules of the Regents and Regulations of the Commissioner of Education 175.5 |
District option |
North Carolina | 185 days Notes: District option to meet either minimum hours/year or minimum days/year. Citations: N.C.G.S.A. § 115C-84.2 |
1,025 hours Citations: N.C.G.S.A. § 115C-84.2 |
N/A | Start: No earlier than Monday closest to 8/19 with approval, otherwise Monday closest to 8/26. Finish: No later than Friday closest to June 11. Citations: N.C.G.S.A. § 115C-84.2 |
North Dakota | 175 days Notes: In a 182-day calendar, 175 days are required for instruction, at least 2 days must be used for professional development and no more than 2 days may be used for parent-teacher conferences. Citations: NDCC § 15.1-06-04 |
N/A Notes: Any reconfigured school year must include at least: Grades K-8 ~ 951.5 hours Grades 9-12 ~ 1,038 hours Citations: NDCC § 15.1-06-05 |
Half-day K ~ 2.75 hours Full-day K ~ 5.5 hours Elementary ~ 5.5 hours High School ~ 6 hours Citations: NDCC § 15.1-22-02 NDCC § 15.1-06-04 |
District option |
Ohio | District option Citations: R.C. § 3313.48 |
Half-day K ~ 455 hours Full-day K-6 ~ 910 hours Grades 7-12 ~ 1,001 hours Citations: R.C. § 3313.48 |
N/A Citations: R.C. § 3313.48 |
District option Citations: R.C. § 3313.48 |
Oklahoma | 180 days Notes: District option to meet either minimum hours/year or minimum days/year. Citations: 70 Okl.St.Ann. § 1-109 |
1,080 hours Notes: Includes up to 30 hours used for professional meetings and 6 hours per semester for parent-teacher conferences. Citations: 70 Okl.St.Ann. § 1-109 |
6 hours Citations: 70 Okl.St.Ann. § 1-109 |
District option Citations: 70 Okl.St.Ann. § 1-111 |
Oregon | N/A | Half-day K ~ 450 hours Full-day K-8 ~ 900 hours Grades 9-11 ~ 990 hours Grade 12 ~ 966 hours Notes: May include up to 30 hours of professional development and up to 30 hours of parent-teacher conferences. Includes recess for grades K-3. Citations: OAR 581-022-2320 |
N/A Notes: Oregon sets maximum, rather than minimum, hours/day: Grades K-8 ~ 8 hours, Grades 9-12 ~ 8.5 hours. Citations: OAR 581-022-2320 |
District option, but no fewer than 265 consecutive calendar days between first and last instructional day. Citations: OAR 581-022-2320 |
Pennsylvania | 180 days Notes: District option to meet either minimum hours/year or minimum days/year. Citations: 22 Pa. Code § 11.1 |
Kindergarten ~ 450 hours Grades 1-8 ~ 900 hours Grades 9-12 ~ 990 hours Citations: 22 Pa. Code § 11.1 22 Pa. Code § 51.61 |
Kindergarten ~ 2.5 hours Grades 1-8 ~ 5 hours Grades 9-12 ~ 5.5 hours Citations: 22 Pa. Code § 11.3 22 Pa. Code § 51.61 |
District option |
Rhode Island | 180 days Notes: District option to meet either minimum hours/year or minimum days/year. Citations: Gen.Laws 1956, § 16-2-2 |
1,080 hours Citations: Gen.Laws 1956, § 16-2-2 |
Kindergarten ~ 5.5 hours Grades 1-12 ~ 6 hours Citations: Gen.Laws 1956, § 16-99-3 Gen.Laws 1956, § 16-2-2 |
District option |
South Carolina | 180 days Notes: 3 days must be used for professional development; no more than 2 days may be used for the preparation of opening schools; and 5 days must be used for teacher planning, academic plans and parent conferences to total 190 days. Citations: Code 1976 § 59-1-425 |
N/A | 6 hours Notes: Includes lunch for elementary schools. Excludes lunch for secondary schools. Citations: Code 1976 § 59-1-425 |
Start: No earlier than third Monday in August. Citations: Code 1976 § 59-1-425 |
South Dakota | District option Citations: SDCL § 13-26-1 |
Kindergarten ~ 437.5 hours Grades 1-5 ~ 875 hours Grades 6-12 ~ 962.5 hours Notes: Includes intermissions for grades 1-5. Excludes intermissions for grades 6-12. School boards may release graduating seniors prior to the end of the school year. Citations: SDCL § 13-26-1 SDCL § 13-26-2 |
N/A Citations: SDCL § 13-26-1 |
District option |
Tennessee | 180 days Notes: Plus 5 days for in-service and 1 day for parent-teacher conferences. Citations: T. C. A. § 49-6-3004 |
N/A | Kindergarten ~ 4 hours Grades 1-12 ~ 6.5 hours Citations: T. C. A. § 49-6-201 T. C. A. § 49-6-3004 |
Start: No earlier than August 1. Citations: T. C. A. § 49-6-3004 |
Texas | N/A | 1,260 hours Notes: Includes intermissions and recesses. State specifies instructional time in minutes. Citations: V.T.C.A., Education Code § 25.081 |
7 hours Citations: V.T.C.A., Education Code § 29.0822 |
Start: No earlier than the fourth Monday in August. Citations: V.T.C.A., Education Code § 25.0811 |
Utah | 180 days Notes: Includes parent-teacher conferences or college and career conferences for up to 16.5 hours or 3 full school days. Citations: U.A.C. R277-419 |
Kindergarten ~ 450 hours Grade 1 ~ 810 hours Grades 2-12 ~ 990 hours Citations: U.A.C. R277-419 |
Kindergarten ~ 2 hours Grades 1-12 ~ 4 hours Citations: U.A.C. R277-419 |
District option |
Vermont | 175 days Notes: Plus at least 5 days of teacher in-service education days. Citations: 16 V.S.A. § 1071 |
N/A | Kindergarten ~ 2 hours/day or 10 hours/week Grades 1-2 ~ 4 hours/day or 20 hours/week Grades 3-8 ~ 5.5 hours/day or 27.5 hours/week Grades 9-12 ~ 5.5 hours/day or 27.5 hours/week Notes: Includes recess and excludes lunch for grades 1-8. Excludes recess and lunch for grades 9-12. Citations: Vermont State Board of Education Manual of Rules and Practices 2312 |
Determined regionally Citations: 16 V.S.A. § 1071 |
Virginia | 180 days Notes: District option to meet either minimum hours/year or minimum days/year. Citations: VA Code Ann. § 22.1-98 |
Kindergarten ~ 540 hours Grades 1-12 ~ 990 hours Citations: VA Code Ann. § 22.1-79.1 |
Kindergarten ~ 3 hours Grades 1-12 ~ 5.5 hours Notes: Excludes recess and lunch. Citations: 8 VAC 20-131-150 |
Start: After Labor Day. Citations: VA Code Ann. § 22.1-79.1 |
Washington | 180 days Citations: West's RCWA 28A.150.220 |
Grades K-8 ~ 1,000 hours Grades 9-12 ~ 1,080 hours Citations: West's RCWA 28A.150.220 |
N/A | District option |
West Virginia | 180 days Citations: W. Va. Code, § 18-5-45 |
N/A | Grades K-5 ~ 5.25 hours Grades 6-8 ~ 5.5 hours Grades 9-12 ~ 5.75 hours Citations: W. Va. Code, § 18-5-45 |
District option |
Wisconsin | N/A | Kindergarten ~ 437 hours Grades 1-6 ~ 1,050 hours Grades 7-12 ~ 1,137 hours Citations: W.S.A. 121.02 |
N/A | Start: No earlier than 9/1. Citations: W.S.A. 118.045 |
Wyoming | 175 days Citations: W.S.1977 § 21-4-301 |
Kindergarten ~ 450 hours Elementary ~ 900 hours Middle/Jr. High ~ 1,050 hours Secondary ~ 1,100 hours Citations: WY Rules and Regulations EDU GEN Ch. 22 s 5 |
N/A | District option |
© 2022 by the Education Commission of the States (ECS). All rights reserved. ECS is the only nationwide, nonpartisan interstate compact devoted to education. 700 Broadway #810, Denver, CO 80203-3442
To request permission to excerpt part of this publication, either in print or electronically, please contact the Education Commission of the States’ Communications Department at 303.299.3636 or mzatynski@ecs.org.
Your Education Policy Team www.ecs.org