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What are Oregon's new instructional hour rules?

Current Events & News | 02/03/2015

Kelsey Cardwell
Marketing & Communications Director

Kelsey manages marketing and communications for the Oregon team.

Only a month into 2015, and we're already celebrating the first big win for Oregon kids! At the end of January, the Oregon Board of Education approved changes to instructional hour requirements. Leading up to this decision, we heard much debate, and we saw the board float several different proposals. So what exactly are the final new rules on instructional hour requirements? Here's a simple overview of the changes. 

Minimum Hour Requirements:

What Counts as Instruction?

It's worth noting that while it appears the school day lengthens for first through third graders, they are usually in school with fourth and fifth graders. For that reason, it made sense to align the instructional hour requirements.

Do you have any further questions about these new rules? Let us know in the comment section, and we'll be sure to answer.

Further Reading:

OPB: Board Tightens Requirements On Instructional Hours For Oregon Students

The Register-Guard: High School Students Deserve Full Schedules

Stand Lane County Director Joy Marshall testifies before the Oregon Board of Education

Stand Press Statement: Stand calls on the State Board of Education to ensure more students have access to a full schedule

Oregon Department of Education: State Board of Education -- Administrative Rule Summary

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  • Is planning time included as instructional time? How are field trips and assemblies not counted as instructional? Is 15 minutes a day for recess going to actually make students focus more, especially for the younger grades? Even adults who are not in the field of education get more breaks than that!
    Maria Keithley

    February 3, 2015 9:41 PM

  • Hi Maria! Planning does not count as instructional time. Field trips and assemblies count as instructional time if the activity meets the definition of instructional time in OAR 581-022-0102(30). The rules do not set the amount of recess time. Rather, the rules say that for K-3, some recess time can be counted towards the instructional time total. The total amount of recess time is up to the district and depends upon the contracted day and year.
    Parasa Chanramy

    October 24, 2016 3:04 PM

  • Could you help me find a chart with the required minimum instructional minutes per subjects (Language arts, mathematics, etc.) and grades: K-5? Thank you lynda.shaffer@tuckermaxon.org
    Lynda Shaffer

    June 17, 2015 7:59 PM

  • Hi Lynda! In Oregon, we do not break down the required time by subject. Here is the breakdown of what is required: 1. Minimum hours: The State Board of Education has established the following minimum hours of instructional time: Half-day Kindergarten – 450 hours Full-Day Kindergarten – 900 hours Grades 1-8 – 900 hours Grades 9-11 – 990 hours Grade 12 – 966 hours 2. Percentage of students scheduled: Districts must ensure that a certain percentage of students are scheduled to receive the minimum hours of instructional time. Here are the requirements districts must meet: Yearly requirements *2015-16: 80% of students in the district must be scheduled to receive annually the required minimum hours of instructional time *2016-17: 85% of students in the district must be scheduled to receive annually the required minimum hours of instructional time *2017-18: 90% of students in the district must be scheduled to receive annually the required minimum hours of instructional time *2018-19: 92% of students in the district and 80% of all students at each school operated by the district must be scheduled to receive annually the required minimum hours of instructional time
    Parasa Chanramy

    October 24, 2016 3:09 PM

  • Hi, I am looking for the ODE or State Board of Education statement on these minutes. Do you know where the official memo is on this?
    Joel Lavin

    July 15, 2015 9:04 AM

  • Hi Joel! Thanks for reaching out. The Department of Education is working on a Frequently Asked Questions document on instructional hours. In the meantime, the best resource for the requirements would be found under the Oregon Administrative Rules: http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/rules/oars_500/oar_581/581_022.html Once you are on the page, you'll want to review the "Required Instructional Time" section under 581-022-1620. If you have any questions, please reach out!
    Parasa Chanramy

    October 24, 2016 3:23 PM

  • I have the same question as the folks before me. I can't seem to find a document which expresses the required instructional time by subject. Is there something out there for Oregon on this topic?
    Julie Graber

    May 10, 2016 4:01 PM

  • Hi Julie! In Oregon, we do not break down the required time by subject. Here is the breakdown of what is required: 1. Minimum hours: The State Board of Education has established the following minimum hours of instructional time: Half-day Kindergarten – 450 hours Full-Day Kindergarten – 900 hours Grades 1-8 – 900 hours Grades 9-11 – 990 hours Grade 12 – 966 hours 2. Percentage of students scheduled: Districts must ensure that a certain percentage of students are scheduled to receive the minimum hours of instructional time. Here are the requirements districts must meet: Yearly requirements *2015-16: 80% of students in the district must be scheduled to receive annually the required minimum hours of instructional time; *2016-17: 85% of students in the district must be scheduled to receive annually the required minimum hours of instructional time; *2017-18: 90% of students in the district must be scheduled to receive annually the required minimum hours of instructional time; *2018-19: 92% of students in the district and 80% of all students at each school operated by the district must be scheduled to receive annually the required minimum hours of instructional time.
    Parasa Chanramy

    October 24, 2016 3:26 PM

  • A win for children? Forcing them to spend more time in school? Where do you people come from and why not call it what it is.... child abuse!
    bob cobb

    September 16, 2016 1:50 AM

  • Mill city, Oregon is in marion and Linn county Mill city only has school four days a week, does less than 32 hours meet the requirement? Also is it legal to do this ? I believe the four day week is to insure no benefits to the school staff.
    Favor ogg

    October 21, 2016 1:02 AM

  • Hi there! In Oregon, districts may do a four day week. They still need to meet the instructional time minimums, which are: Half-day Kindergarten – 450 hours; Full-Day Kindergarten – 900 hours; Grades 1-8 – 900 hours; Grades 9-11 – 990 hours; Grade 12 – 966 hours.
    Parasa Chanramy

    October 24, 2016 3:30 PM

  • What happens when gifted students (or any student for that matter) need only 2 or 3 three credits to graduate for their senior year and they are forced to take other classes to meet the requirement of the 966 hours? What good does it do when they are bored out of their minds and are ready to drop-out because they can't stay in school and manage through the mundane? How can the student be allowed to go to school for only a couple hours a day and actually feel as if they are being respected for who they are and treated fairly when it comes to the educational system?
    Angelina

    November 6, 2016 6:42 PM

  • Angelina, each school will be required to fully schedule at least 80 percent of their students by the 2018-19 school year, so students that are ahead on credits will still have room to not attend for a full day.
    kcardwell

    November 7, 2016 2:04 PM

  • Springfield school district. My 2nd grade grandson was just scaled back to 2.5 hours of school per day....... is this allowed.
    Jacque Young

    May 30, 2019 9:05 AM

  • Hi Jacque, this isn't something we've ever heard of. We'd recommend raising this with your grandson's teacher. If it isn't addressed, then you could go to the principal. If neither of those options work, please let us know.
    dlindner

    May 30, 2019 9:26 AM