By Carolyn Cole/Staff Writer

Extending the school year by a week would cost El Reno School District over $500,000, but school officials said they support the idea if it was funded.

Oklahoma lawmakers are considering a proposal to extend Oklahoma’s school year to 180 instructional days with five professional development days. Now, children attend class for six hours for 175 days per year — less on average than their peers in other states and industrialized nations.

Kansas requires 186 days of instruction, Arkansas students attend 178 days per year and Texas and New Mexico school calendars are 180 days long. Students in Japan attend school 240 days each year, while Chinese pupils attend school nine hours a day for 200 days.

Oklahoma educators are also conducting a long-term study to determine if school time can be used wisely and if more time is needed. Lisa Horn, El Reno special services director, is one of 30 educators serving on the committee, which is set to release recommendations in December.

“We are in danger of not being competitive globally,” she said. “There is a sense of urgency to look at what we are doing.”

First, Horn said school officials are looking for ways to minimize classroom interruptions, such as announcements, assemblies, noise in school hallways and passing periods at middle and high schools. During study meetings, she said teachers have reported frustration from students missing class for extracurricular activities and field trips. One teacher told the study he only had a full class once or twice a month, she said.