Virginia Legislature Approves Extended Hours For Kindergarten Accreditation

A bill approved by the Virginia Legislature that would almost double the amount of instructional hours of kindergarten classes to 990 hours is now headed to Governor Ralph Northam’s desk for his signature. The bill directs the Board of Education to adopt regulations by 2022, along with the requirement that the standard school day for kindergarten students average at least five and a half instructional hours in order to qualify for full kindergarten accreditation. Currently, Virginia Beach and Chesapeake are the only two school systems that are not already meeting the new standards.