GOVERNOR Ralph DLG Torres on Friday signed into law Senate Bill 22-21, which allows the Board of Education to reduce the number of school days in a year during an emergency declaration or in times of natural disaster.
Authored by Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider, S.B. 22-21 is now Public Law 22-2.
The new law amends P.L. 20-48, which requires BOE to maintain 180 days of instruction each school year for students from kindergarten through 12th grade, exclusive of weekends, holidays, and emergency closings authorized by the education commissioner.
P.L. 22-2 allows BOE, in consultation with the commissioner, to reduce the instructional calendar applicable to each school in the event of an emergency declaration or natural disaster.
Further, the measure clarifies the board’s authority to establish, maintain, amend or modify as necessary, the instructional calendar or minimum instructional time for kindergarten, elementary school, and high school students of the Public School System.
The need to amend the law was brought to the Legislature’s attention by then-BOE member Philip Mendiola-Long during recovery from Super Typhoon Yutu, according to the Senate Committee on Education, Health and Welfare.
During discussions between local education officials and their federal partners, it was noted that the impact of natural disasters on school operations and instructional time could jeopardize PSS’ accreditation status.
The Senate committee determined in its report that without an immediate amendment to rectify the provisions of P.L. 20-48, the CNMI’s public educational institutions “will continue to face complications in resolving the educational needs of the students in line with the guidance and support of its federal partners.”
