Could Winter Weather Create School Make-Up Day Dilemma?

by WAKA Action 8 News

The winter weather has led some schools to close — adding to the days students have already missed because of the weather. Students may love it, but teachers and parents are concerned about the classroom time that’s lost.

So could the weather create a make-up day dilemma? State law requires students to be in school for a specific amount of days each year, so when cancellations because of bad weather start adding up, it makes it tougher for districts to follow the requirements. The standardized tests that students must take are not being delayed because of the weather.

About 40 school systems in the state have closed. Two weeks ago, Montgomery Public Schools did the same,  giving students fewer days of learning before facing standardized tests.

Flowers Elementary School teacher, Amy Williams, is concerned.
    
“I know with me teaching kindergarten and the young child, it’s very important to keep the flow of learning and the consistency going. A couple of days, we’re okay with, but lets hope we have no more bad weather and we can keep that consistency and the flow going,” Said Williams.

Govornor Robert Bentley has declared a state of emergency, just as he did two weeks ago. That means school systems are not required to make up lost days — something he says he’s not worried about.

“Well, actually I issued a state of emergency to really try to help our teachers and our students. They are going to miss some school. They can make it up with some more assignments and things of this nature,” Said Bentley.

But some parents think schools need to make-up the days. Keri Broughton says she wants to make sure her children are ready for the next grade.

“I would rather them make up the days at the end of the year and have the extra time to learn the curriculum then to try and jam it into the time they have left,” Said Broughton.

Williams says for now, she’ll add assignments to make sure her students stay on track.

“If it was lingered and weeks that we’d be missing, that’d be different,” Said Williams.

Montgomery Public Schools, will only have to make up one of the five days missed. That’s because three days fall under the state of emergency.

Another day wont have to be made up because by the end of the year, students will have more classroom hours than required.

The standardized tests dates will only be changed if a weather disaster happens closer to the exam date.