Bill > HB2931

This bill establishes a mandatory monthly half day for students in West Virginia schools to provide dedicated time for teacher instructional planning. Specifically, the bill adds a new provision to the existing school calendar law requiring one Friday per month to be a half day for students, during which teachers can engage in individual or team-based instructional planning. The half day is strictly designated for teacher planning purposes and cannot be used by school administration or county boards for meetings or training. This provision aims to give educators more structured time to collaborate, develop curriculum, and improve instructional strategies without disrupting full student instructional days. The new half day would be incorporated into the existing school calendar, which already requires 180 instructional days and provides 20 non-instructional days for various professional activities. By mandating this monthly planning time, the bill seeks to support teacher professional development and potentially enhance the quality of classroom instruction.