Panel approves measure allowing seat‑hour based credit instead of day counts

Representative Walton presented House Bill 358 to replace a 180‑school‑day credit metric with a seat‑hour standard (one credit = a minimum of roughly 83 instructional hours), giving LEAs more scheduling flexibility (4‑day weeks, block schedules, or modified daily schedules) while maintaining the same aggregate instructional time.

Members asked whether the change affects funding or attendance calculations; the sponsor said the bill is a scheduling and credit‑definition tool that mirrors current practice (different schedules already yield comparable seat‑hour totals) and is not intended to change pay structures. Committee adopted a substitute (removing an unnecessary driver’s‑education clause) and recommended the substitute favorably by unanimous vote.