Periodic Data Collection: Instructional Days and Hours

Overview

The Instructional Days and Hours data file collects the school calendar information as required per HB24-1063, specifically 22-2-310. This collection is also used to request a reduced academic school calendar.

By the beginning of the 2025-26 school year, CDE shall standardize the reporting method that schools of a school district, district charter schools, school districts, institute charter schools, and the state charter school institute use to collect and report data concerning:

• Instructional hours;
• School calendars; and
• The number of hours students spend on instructional time during the school year.

Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, CDE shall collect from schools of a school district, district charter schools, institute charter schools, and the state charter school institute, at a minimum, the following data:

• Days of instruction for elementary and secondary schools;
• Instructional hours for elementary and secondary schools;
• Estimated non-instructional hours, school closures, snow days, and time spent on lunch and passing between classes.

Deadlines

2025-26 SY collection dates: Tuesday, September 2nd 2025 - Friday, December 5th, 2025.

Moving forward, collection of school calendars will be collected in the Spring semester for the upcoming school year. 

File Layout and Definitions

2025-26 Instructional Days and Hours File Layout (PDF)

Business Rules

Not yet available - coming soon.

Templates

Not yet available - coming soon.

Training

Office Hours

• 6/24 Instructional Days and Hours Office Hours - 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. - Register

SIS Guidance

• Infinite Campus Instructional Days & Hours Custom Tool Setup (pdf)

Additional Resources

• HB24-1063 Summary
• HB24-1063 Full Legislation

Frequently Asked Questions

General

Q. Which schools need to submit data for this collection?

A. BOCES operating schools, CSI, and districts should submit data for any public school (school system code 1) serving any grades from kindergarten through 12th grade (006-120) will need to submit data for this collection.

Q. Which schools do not need to submit data for this collection?

1. Public schools only serving pre-k (004) do not need to submit data. If your school serves grades pre-k and above, pre-k may be omitted from the data submitted for the rest of the school.
2. 100% Home Options Schools (school system code 10) do not need to submit data.

Q. Do I need to include summer school calendars in this collection? 

A. Summer school calendars should not be included in the Instructional Days and Hours collection. 

Hours of Instruction

Q. How do I classify assemblies?

A. All planned assembly time should be counted as instructional. 

Q. How is graduation day calculated?

A. Graduation day (in which no classes or tests are held for any grade) cannot be included as an instructional day or hours. If other grades continue to have instruction and/or testing, these grades would be expected to have a higher instructional hour count than seniors.

Q. How do I classify remote learning days?

A.  The use of remote learning days can only be used as instructional days and hours in the event of an emergency school closure, meaning there are no planned remote learning days allowed. Since this collection asks for information based on your planned academic calendar, remote learning days should not be factored in.

Passing/Recess Instructional Indicator

Q. How do I know if passing and recess are counted as instructional time or non-instructional?

A. Each district school board should have a policy on whether or not passing and recess are counted as instructional time. You will need to locate and review your district's policy on instructional time to determine if passing or recess are counted as instructional time. If a policy is not defined, assume that passing time is counted as instructional time and enter a 1 (yes) in this field.

Total Teacher Workdays

Q. Our new teachers attend an orientation the week before the rest of our teachers return. Should those additional orientation days be included in the Total Teacher Workdays?

A. Total Teacher Workdays should not include orientation days for new staff but only the standard number of working days expected of returning teaching staff. 

Contact

DirectoryData@cde.state.co.us