Massachusetts ends eLearning Days policy
by John Watson
Our Digital Learning Collaborative report on eLearning Days missed a recent development: Massachusetts is about to end its policy supporting what it calls Alternative Structured Learning Day Programs. In a memo dated June 26, 2019, the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education explains that
“In the few years since some districts and schools began implementing alternative structured learning day programs, parents and other stakeholders have raised concerns about whether all students can have equitable access to these programs. Additionally, concerns have been raised regarding whether such programs meet the standards for "structured learning time."
In response to these concerns, in October 2018, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) announced that it would convene a work group during winter 2018-2019 to review alternative structured learning day programs…
Based on the review of the development and implementation of these programs and the concerns raised, the Department will discontinue the alternative structured learning day programs pilot after school year 2019-2020. While previous locally-approved programs may be implemented as needed through school year 2019-2020, districts and schools should take care to implement these in a manner that is consistent with state and federal law. While the Department recognized these programs as possible solutions to school closings due to an emergency or extraordinary circumstance that forces the closing of school for one or more days, the decision to discontinue the use of alternative structured learning day programs is based upon a variety of factors, including concerns about equitable access for all students.” (emphasis in original)
This is an interesting development, and we will be watching to see if other states follow suit. In our research for the DLC report, we spoke with one superintendent in a state that allows eLearning Days, who told us that she did not believe they could be implemented equitably in her district. We have a session exploring eLearning Days planned for the Digital Learning Annual Conference in a few weeks, and look forward to a lively discussion that will, we hope, include both advocates and skeptics.