A new law takes effect July 1st that changes how schools use emergency days off.
Public Act 101-0012 allows schools to use online learning when classes are canceled.
The state reinstated a minimum of 5 hours of instructional time a day, while also leaving flexibility for learning beyond the classroom.
Schools can use this flexibility to use E-learning days when there’s emergency or inclement weather that causes school cancelations.
Schools are required to plan 5 days in the calendar for emergency closures and if they go beyond that, more days are added to the end of the year.
Using E-learning days will prevent extra days being added on to the calendar.
“This option has ways to be able to reach the students at home so that they don’t lose a whole days of instruction.”
Franklin Community Unit School District Superintendent Matt Donkin likes the idea but doesn’t think his district is ready to try it yet.
“If you’re going to have an E-learning day, you also need connectivity on the internet across Southern Illinois and you also need the technology at home.”
Donkin says he’s interested in seeing how other schools utilize E-learning days, but does have some concerns.
“You’ve got to have logistics and make sure there’s a chance for some kind of interaction and instruction on those e learning days is not just send homework home to do it because you still need to have a system where the teaching staff is able to interact with the students.”
