East Baton Rouge school board approves short-term change to 2024–25 calendar to capture missed instructional minutes

The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board on Jan. 30 approved an amendment to the 2024–25 school calendar to capture missed instructional minutes, extending the Feb. 19 school day and adding end-of-year student days to meet state requirements.

Superintendent Cole told the board the district must extend the Feb. 19 date and is recommending adding minutes at the end of the year “to be least disruptive to families,” but said staff will return to the board’s Committee on Academics, Leadership and Learning (CAL) with alternative plans if requested.

The change drew public comment from a classroom teacher who said the proposed three short days at the end of the semester would not create meaningful instructional time. “If by putting them at the end of the semester, that gives us no true instructional time,” the commenter said, and recommended converting Feb. 19 to a full day instead. School board member Patrick Martin echoed that concern and asked staff to return to the CAL with more data if needed.

Deputy Smith explained the district’s calculations and constraints tied to Carnegie-unit rules: the district must build a calendar that totals the statutory instructional minutes required for Carnegie units. Deputy Smith said high-school block schedules and how individual class days count toward units limit the options, and the superintendent’s team prioritized minimizing family disruption while remaining compliant. Deputy Smith said the district’s calendar designers considered Ash Wednesday and spring break as alternatives and concluded the proposed amendment met compliance for the affected courses.

Board members debated practical impacts. Some argued final exams could be scheduled later so added instructional days are not simply “after-exam” movie days; others said the recommendation is the least disruptive path and consistent with state requirements. The board ultimately voted to accept the superintendent’s recommendation.

The board and superintendent said staff will bring follow-up analysis to the February CAL showing alternatives such as: adding minutes to school days, adjusting vacation days, or keeping the added minutes at the end of the year; staff also said they will consult with teachers and families before proposing further changes.

The amendment is meant to ensure the district meets the state’s instructional-minute requirements for Carnegie units; Superintendent Cole said the district will continue to refine schedules and provide contingency minutes and minutes-flex options for teachers to plan instruction.

Board members made multiple requests for additional information, including comparisons with neighboring districts, specific attendance and lesson-plan expectations for added days, and possible effects on exam scheduling. Superintendent Cole said schools are expected to treat every calendar day as a lesson-planned instructional day and that school leaders will prepare thematic or preparatory instruction for post-exam days.

The board’s approval was framed as a near-term compliance measure, with staff directed to return with more complete data and alternative calendar options at the February committee meeting.