Your Take: Should Districts Be Allowed to Customize the School Year?

The state of Connecticut requires that children in the public school system in grades kindergarten through 12 attend school for 180 days. No more, no less.

In recent years, with natural disasters like Tropical Storm Irene, Hurricane Sandy, Snowtober and various blizzards, making that 180-day minimum (before the required last day of June 30) has sometimes proven to be challenge.

A bill in the General Assembly this year would lift that requirement off school districts that are determined to be 'high-performing.'

Introduced by Rep. J. Brendan Sharkey, 88th Dist., Rep. Joe Aresimowicz, 30th Dist., Sen. Donald E. Williams, 29th Dist. and Sen. Martin M. Looney, 11th Dist. as part of a larger bill called An Act Unleashing Innovation In Connecticut Schools, the measure would allow some districts to have classes six days a week, for example.           

The Hartford Courant thinks the idea is a good one and should be given the green light. The proposal came from the governor's Red Tape Task Force.

What do you think? How should the school calendar be constructed to best teach our children? Add your thoughts in the comments.