MN Shortened School Day Act

 

This bill is meant to reduce the duration of period that high school students in Minnesota have to spend at school each

day.

This bill attempts for healthy sleep habits, improve focus in core classes, enhance student mental health, while

creating a more balanced schedule for students who also manage jobs, sports, family obligations, and homework.

The goal of a shorter school day is to promote a healthier and more productive learning environment to improve students'

mental health and performance in school.

 

When transportation, after-school activities, and homework are not included, high school students in Minnesota generally

go to classes in seven to eight hours daily.

Long school days are caused by stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, and low motivation, according to research, especially in

teenagers whose brains need more sleep.

During the last few hours of the day, many of students say they feel overwhelmed, tired, and unable to concentrate. In

other states, schools with reduced hours were better in:

attendance of students,

Participation in the class,

Mental health,

grades in the basic subjects,

and gratitude of teachers.

Additionally, schools can deliver the same educational content faster with no harm to academic standards through blended

learning models and modern technology.

Students across Minnesota helps from a more equal, healthy, and effective school schedule because of to this bill.

 

"Core Classes" refer to required academic subjects like English Language Arts, science, math, and Social Studies;

"Instructional Time" means to the time during that actual instruction, learning, or educational activities are taking

place; "High School" refers to any public school serving grades 9 through 12; and "Shortened School Day" means a

required instructional schedule that is shortened by no less than one hour in terms of a normal school schedule.

 

Every school district will be able to take part in a one year pilot program to test a shortened school day for the

Minnesota Department of schools. To uphold academic standards, districts may rearrange class periods, reduce less

non-instructional time, eliminate pointless transitions, or use blended or online learning resources. Schools may make

use of existing assets, such as safe schools funds, school spending plants, and student-provided technology.

Collaborations with regional schools theres no need to increase taxes. This bill prioritizes restructuring time in

higher expences.

 

1. No more than six hours the hours of instructions per school day may be required in Minnesota high schools. 2. When

elective periods, advisory time, events, and repeated study hall blocks may be shortened, schools still have to meet all

core academic requirements. 3. Prior to the first day of the school year, each district must provide a schedule plan to

MDE collects information on student stress levels, attendance rates, test scores, grades, and disciplinary incidents

throughout the pilot year. Overall students well-being and evaluations form educators. 5. The shortened school day will

become a permanent option for Minnesota districts in data from the test year indicates improved or stable education

outcomes.

 

In order to give schools time to modify their schedules and get ready for the pilot program, this act will go into

effect on July 1,2026.