Dear North Kansas City Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you about an important new provision in Missouri state law, Senate Bill 727 (SB 727), that provides incentives for school districts to achieve 169 student attendance days or more during the academic year. This provision has implications for how we manage our instructional time during inclement weather and emergency situations, ultimately benefiting both students and teachers.

What Provision in SB 727 Speaks to Student Attendance?

SB 727 was passed by the Missouri Legislature to encourage districts to meet a minimum number of student attendance days in a given school year. Previously, districts were required to meet a minimum of 1,044 student attendance hours, a number which NKC Schools exceeds. The new law allows districts to earn a financial incentive by reaching 169 attendance days, which must be used to support teacher salaries. This incentive is particularly important as we continue to focus on improving teacher compensation and ensuring we are attracting and retaining quality educators.

To meet the 169-day requirement, districts must account for any missed instructional days due to weather-related closures or emergency circumstances by using Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI), a system that allows us to provide virtual or other alternative learning options on days when students cannot safely attend school in person.

How Will North Kansas City Schools Implement This?

North Kansas City Schools is committed to maintaining the high educational standards our community expects. Our current calendar has 170 student attendance days. To meet the 169-day requirement, we will follow this plan:

1. Traditional Snow Day: Our first snow day will be a traditional snow day with no expectation of virtual instruction nor attendance.
2. Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI): In the event of additional inclement weather or other disruptions, we will use AMI days. This means that instead of canceling school entirely, students will have the opportunity to participate in online or at-home learning, allowing us to meet the required attendance days without disrupting the academic calendar.
3. Traditional Snow Days, Made Up: The state allows school districts to utilize up to five days of AMI. If we have more than six inclement weather days (one traditional plus those five AMI), beginning on the seventh day we would again have traditional snow days with no virtual learning. The seventh inclement weather day and beyond would be required to be made up through the scheduled make-up days at the end of our calendar. 
    

Aligning with Our Mission

In previous years, we have enjoyed the flexibility of taking up to three traditional snow days before shifting to AMI. However, with SB 727, we believe that ensuring a minimum of 169 days of instruction and securing the financial incentive for our teachers aligns more closely with the high standards we set for ourselves as a district. This decision reflects our mission statement: to serve as relentless champions for all students and each other.

Looking Ahead

We understand that the shift to AMI days may be a change for some families and staff, but we are confident it will allow us to continue providing a high-quality education while also meeting state requirements and supporting our teachers. We appreciate your understanding and partnership.

As always, thank you for your continued support of North Kansas City Schools. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Sincerely,

Amanda Bearden
President, North Kansas City Schools NEA

Rochel Daniels, Ph.D.
Superintendent, North Kansas City Schools