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A bill introduced in Columbus could potentially require Ohio students to attend school for longer hours. State Representative Adam Bird is proposing to increase the minimum required hours from 1,001 to 1,055, or 175 days depending on the length of the school day. Bird believes that longer school hours could improve math and reading proficiency, as current scores are not satisfactory.
Each district would have to determine the number of snow or calamity days allowed while meeting the required hours. Despite potential pushback from teachers unions, virtual learning days would still count towards the instructional hours requirement.