Garfield Re-2 Policies

File: IC/ICA

School Year/School Calendar/Instruction Time

Prior to the end of the school year, the Board must determine the length of time during which district schools must be in session during the next school year.  The number of hours/days of planned teacher-student instruction and of teacher-student contact must be consistent with the Board's definition of "actively engaged in the educational process," must meet or exceed the requirements of state law, and must include a sufficient number of days to allow the superintendent flexibility in preparing a calendar that supports the district’s educational objectives.

The Board defines "actively engaged in the educational process" as the time when  students are working toward achieving educational objectives under the supervision of a licensed teacher, including:

• classroom instruction time
• individual student work time while at school, including study hall and library research
• school-related field trips 
• independent study insofar as such study is allowed under district policy
• assemblies

"Actively engaged in the educational process" does not include:

• lunch [per CDE regulation]
• time students spend before school waiting for classes to begin and time after the last class of the day, including waiting for the bus 
• recess time 
• teacher preparation time
• passing periods between classes

Supervision by a licensed teacher must not require that the teacher be in the student’s physical presence at all times but that the teacher is exercising direction and control over the nature of the student’s activities.

Garfield Re2 also provides a Full Time Online Program (FTOP) for students. Under the guidance of a Certified Online Mentor Teacher, students enrolled in the FTOP proceed through their online courses outside of the school building and potentially outside of traditional school day hours. Attendance in the Online Program is primarily substantiated through participation in asynchronous internet-based educational activities within the Learning Management System as documented on a corresponding student login report. Online Mentor Meeting Data Attendance Report for Weekly Online Advisory Sessions are also used for purposes of tracking student attendance in the Online Program.

Students are expected to complete the equivalent amount of learning time as non-online students. Attendance will be recorded on a weekly basis at the beginning of each week. Course progress and time spent logged into each course will determine attendance for the prior week, providing flexibility for after hours and weekend time spent working through course work. 

The district calendar for the next school year must be prepared by the Collaborative Solutions and presented to the Board for approval in the spring of each year.  The Collaborative Solutions must consult with other districts in the area when preparing the calendar.

The Board authorizes the administration in each school building to issue a school calendar based on the district calendar and in accordance with this policy. Administrators are encouraged to examine instruction time and calendar issues in the context of supporting the district’s educational objectives.  

All calendars must include the dates for all staff inservice programs scheduled for the coming school year.  The Collaborative Solutions shall allow public input from parents and district staff members prior to scheduling the dates for staff inservice programs.

A copy of the calendar must be provided to all parents/guardians of students enrolled in district schools.  Any change in the calendar except for emergency closings or other unforeseen circumstances, must be preceded by adequate and timely notice of no less than 30 days.

Adopted: September 12, 1989

Revised: August 1994

Revised: August 28, 2007

Revised: May 8, 2018

Revised: October 25, 2024

Revised: September 10, 2025

LEGAL REFS.: C.R.S. 22-1-112 (school year and national holidays)

C.R.S. 22-32-109 (1)(n) (duty to determine school year and instruction hours)

C.R.S. 22-33-102 (1) (definition of academic year) C.R.S. 22-33-104 (1) (compulsory attendance law)

C.R.S. 22-44-115.5 (fiscal emergency)

1 CCR 301-39, Rules 2254-R-2.06 (school year and instruction hours; definition of contact/instruction time)

CROSS REF.: EBCE, School Closings and Cancellations

JH, Student Absences and Excuses

Garfield School District No. Re-2, Rifle, Colorado