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(The shrinking school year -
view the data)
ST. PAUL * The day after Minnesota students returned to their
classrooms, State Representative Marty Seifert, R-Marshall,
urged other legislators to join his effort to improve the
quality of a student's school day. Seifert pointed out three
things he said will help ensure students are getting the most
out of their time at school * the length of the school year,
length of the school day and equal student funding.
"We rank near the bottom in the number of days in our school
year, averaging only 171 days in 2006," Seifert said. Minnesota
is the only state that does not require a minimum of school days
or instructional hours. Only South Dakota has a shorter school
year -- an estimated 160.5 days, compared to 180 in most other
states in the region. Seifert also pointed out that Minnesota's
school year has tended to shrink over the last four decades.
"We are as low now as we were in the 1960s. If you want to look
at ways to improve learning, I think that would have to be the
place to start," Seifert said. The school year peaked at 177
days in 1972-73 and declined to 172 days by the mid-80s.
The average school day in Minnesota lasts just over six hours,
with some schools dismissing students as early as 2 or 2:30 p.m.
During the 2007 regular session, Seifert offered an amendment to
the education bill that would have stopped the school day from
shrinking even further. The amendment was defeated.
"When students leave school that early, you have wonder whether
or not we are maximizing the amount of time that could be used.
We also have to look at why schools are letting out so early,
if there is pressure from sports or other factors, I think we
would need to re-examine our priorities," Seifert said.
Seifert also stressed the need for equal funding for every
student across the state.
"It doesn't send a good message when the state tells parents it
values their child's success, then sends their schools a mere
fraction of what other schools receive," Seifert said.
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