Oklahoma schools must make up lost days

State superindendent Sandy Garrett said Oklahoma district schools were closed too many days during the ice storms last month. The schools will have to go longer this year to make up for the lost days.

Wednesday, January 2nd 2008, 12:43 pm

By: News 9

NEWS 9 and the Associated Press

Oklahoma school districts looking for ways to make up lost days from last month's ice storm.

Most school districts had only two or three snow days built into their calendars, but many schools closed for five days after the storm.

The Oklahoma State Department of Education said schools must make up the days and there won't be any special dispensation in these circumstances.

Districts must have 175 instructional days per year.

To make up for the lost days, districts will have to either work the extra days into their current schedules or add them at the end of the school year.

Oklahoma's school year is among the shortest in the nation. Last year, a task force appointed by State Superintendent Sandy Garrett recommended Oklahoma increase the number of school days to 190.