Arkansas Schools Adjust Calendars to Meet LEARNS Act After Winter Closures

Arkansas School Districts Adjust to Inclement Weather Closures Under LEARNS Act Requirements

Arkansas school districts are making up lost instruction time caused by winter storm closures through extended school days and calendar adjustments, as the 2023 LEARNS Act requires strict in-person attendance and limits use of virtual instruction.

Several Arkansas counties experienced closures due to severe winter weather including ice, sleet, and snow prompting a White House emergency declaration. The closures ranged up to six days in some districts like Star City, exceeding their usual two to three days. These disruptions challenge school administrators tasked with meeting state education mandates while ensuring student safety.

Key Points

• Arkansas law mandates at least 178 days or 1,068 hours of on-site, in-person instruction for school funding eligibility, limiting use of alternative methods of instruction (AMI) such as virtual learning during weather closures.

• Districts like Little Rock switched to hours-based calendars, lengthening school days to recover lost time without adding extra days to the academic year.

• Some districts used scheduled professional development days to meet seat-time requirements or requested waivers to modify their calendars mid-year.

• Virtual instruction remains allowed but does not count toward the minimum in-person instruction time required by the LEARNS Act.

• Lawmakers like Rep. Julie Mayberry have unsuccessfully pushed to reinstate AMI days counting toward required in-person hours, citing learning loss and equity concerns.

Impact of Winter Storm on Arkansas Schools

In late January, a severe winter storm delivered snow, ice, and sleet across Arkansas, disrupting transportation and forcing multiple school closures. The White House approved an emergency declaration on January 27, acknowledging hazardous conditions affecting public safety and schooling.

Star City School District, in southeast Arkansas, saw closures lasting six days—longer than typical for the area due to sleet accumulation. Superintendent Jordan Frizzell indicated that the district plans to adjust its schedule accordingly, using the five built-in flexibility days and adding makeup days at the end of the year as needed to meet state instructional hour requirements.

Other districts responded differently: Waldron School District provided excused absences while reopening without bus service, and North Little Rock School District implemented a delayed start time after closures.

LEARNS Act and Instruction Requirements

The 2023 LEARNS Act established stricter requirements for school districts to maintain eligibility for state funding tied to increased teacher salaries. The law requires districts to provide a minimum of 178 days or 1,068 hours of "on-site, in-person instruction," effectively reducing reliance on virtual or alternative instruction days used previously during inclement weather.

Prior to the LEARNS Act, Arkansas districts could use Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) days to offer virtual learning when schools were closed. While AMI days remain allowable, they no longer count toward the mandatory in-person instructional hours under the new legislation.

Superintendent Jermall Wright of Little Rock School District described how switching to an hours-based calendar allowed the district to lengthen school days and accumulate the equivalent of seven full days of instruction, exceeding the six days lost to weather closures. The district also plans to convert non-student days into contact days to avoid extending the school year.

State Guidance and District Adaptations

The Arkansas Department of Education recognizes the disruption hazardous weather can cause and encourages districts to include five makeup days or 30 makeup hours in their calendars. After the January closures, the department allowed districts to use scheduled professional development days as makeup days or apply for waivers to adopt an hourly calendar mid-year, enabling more flexible adjustments to schedules.

Kaelin Clay, department spokesperson, noted that the number of inclement weather days this year was not unusual but acknowledged districts have voiced concerns about makeup requirements.

Ongoing Debate on Virtual Instruction

Republican Representative Julie Mayberry advocated in 2005 and 2023 for AMI days to again count toward in-person instruction hours, citing potential learning loss during extended closures and the benefit of virtual skills. She emphasized flexibility for districts to tailor decisions based on student needs, especially during extreme circumstances like the 2023 tornado that destroyed Wynne High School.

Despite these efforts, AMI days currently do not satisfy in-person seat time as required by the LEARNS Act. Supporters of the act argue that in-person instruction is essential for addressing learning loss observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rep. Mayberry, not seeking reelection, signaled willingness to discuss the issue with interested lawmakers in future sessions but is unaware of any current plans to change the law ahead of 2027.

Additional Regional Weather-Related Responses

Outside Arkansas, institutions like UA Little Rock have also responded to hazardous winter conditions by closing campuses, citing dangerous travel conditions due to snow and ice accumulation.

In Georgia, Severe Weather Preparedness Week (February 2–6) led by Emory University’s Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR) promotes emergency planning and awareness. The campaign encourages families and students to review safety plans and emergency contacts, with daily focuses including family preparedness, thunderstorm, tornado, lightning, flash flooding, and flood safety.

Conclusion

Arkansas school districts are navigating the logistical challenges of winter weather closures under the requirements of the LEARNS Act by adjusting calendars and extending school days. While virtual instruction remains an option, it does not currently fulfill mandated in-person instructional hours, prompting districts to seek innovative solutions to meet state standards without compromising education quality or equity. Lawmakers and education officials continue to balance the need for student safety, learning continuity, and legislative compliance amid evolving weather-related disruptions.