DESE Adopts New Student Learning Time Regulations

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Recently, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (“DESE”) approved emergency regulations relative to student learning time in light of hybrid and remote learning models.  Districts will be required to provide a certain amount of live and synchronous instruction to students.

Effective January 19, 2021, 603 CMR 27.00 now requires that schools operating in a:

  • Hybrid learning model:
    • Provide at least 35 hours of live instruction over a 10-day school day period, averaged across the grades in the hybrid learning model.
  • Remote learning model:
    • Provide synchronous instruction each school day; and
    • Provide at least 40 hours of synchronous instruction over a 10-day school period, averaged across the grades in the remote learning model.

The revised regulations may be accessed here: https://www.doe.mass.edu/bese/docs/fy2021/2020-12/item2.2-slt-p-amend-strikethrough.docx

If you have any questions regarding this update, bargaining obligations associated with the learning time requirements, or school law generally, please contact us.