In December 2023, Governor Shapiro signed Act 56 into law. This Act allows schools to change how they count the time students spend in school.

Instead of the previously required 180 days, schools can choose to provide elementary students with 900 hours of instruction and secondary students with 990 hours/year. Schools also have the flexibility to “count” those hours outside of the regular school day to include evenings, weekends, summers, etc. 

This change offers numerous opportunities to schools and students. For example, some districts are considering changing from a 5-day to a 4-day school week, using the extra day for teacher preparation and professional development, and for students to participate in learning through pre-apprenticeships, internships, out-of-school time activities, independent study, etc.

We have only begun to explore the possibilities Act 56 opens for students and are excited for the opportunities it offers. The Consortium has been encouraging educators to take a student-centered approach, and think about how this flexibility could be leveraged to benefit kids.

• Chronic absenteeism is a problem for many schools. To re-engage these students, we need to think creatively and provide them with an educational experience that better meets their needs while also preparing them for their futures. For these students, schools can personalize their learning and partner with outside organizations to deliver instruction that helps students meet state content standards while also building skills needed for future career success.
• Many families are looking for an educational “choice”. Schools can build partnerships that offer students opportunities to learn about topics that are of interest to them and can be delivered at times that meet their needs. For families of young children, this might help expand the school year to align better with caregivers’ work schedules. For older students, access to work-based learning opportunities can help them explore and plan for their futures while also gaining knowledge and skills that align with state learning standards.
• Students learn better when they see the relevance in what they are learning. Building flexible schedules that allow for project-based learning, work-based learning, and structured independent study can help students see how what they learn in the classroom is applied to solve real-world problems. Research shows that this kind of learning leads to better academic outcomes. 

Flexible schedules won’t work for every student. Fortunately, Act 56 also provides schools with the ability to apply this flexibility to select students, not the entire school. It will take a lot of planning and out-of-the-box thinking to get this started, and for many students, could be worth the effort.