ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — As Hurricane Ian approached Florida, schools within the Tampa Bay area sent students home to let families prepare to safely weather the storm.
Now that we've moved into the recovery phase, districts are announcing plans to make up for missed days.
It's important to note that by state law, students must make up for missed school days within the same semester to receive full credit. So, make-up days must be completed before the second semester begins in January.
Here's a county-by-county list of Hurricane Ian make-up days. This list will be updated as districts continue to announce make-up plans.
Citrus County
Students returned to Citrus County schools on Monday, Oct. 3.
Make-up days have not yet been announced.
Hardee County
Students will return to Hardee County schools on Monday, Oct. 10.
Make-up days have not yet been announced.
Hernando County
Students returned to Hernando County schools on Monday, Oct. 3.
Make-up days have not yet been announced.
Highlands County
Students returned to Highlands County schools on Tuesday, Oct. 4.
Make-up days have not yet been announced.
Hillsborough County
In order to preserve the entire week off for Thanksgiving Break, Superintendent Addison Davis announced that the district will be turning one teacher planning day into a full school day and will be extending hours for previously planned early release days.
- Monday, Oct. 17, will be a full school day instead of a teacher-planning day
The following Mondays will now be full school days:
- Nov. 7
- Nov. 14
- Nov. 28
- Dec. 5
- Dec. 12
- Dec. 19
Manatee County
Students returned to Manatee County schools on Tuesday, Oct. 4.
The district announced that due to the millage referendum passed by voters in 2018 and renewed in 2021, schools will not need to take time out of their fall or winter breaks to make up for days missed for Hurricane Ian.
- Tuesday, Dec. 20 through Thursday, Dec. 22, will now be full school days for high school students only. These were originally designated as half days.
There will be no schedule changes for elementary and middle school students.
Pasco County
Students returned to Pasco County schools on Monday, Oct. 3.
The district announced make-up days in a message to parents:
- January 3, a Tuesday, will be a regular school day for students and staff. That means students will return on Tuesday, a day early after the two-week Winter Break.
- February 20, a Monday, will be a regular school day for students and teachers. It is currently on the calendar as a non-school day for students and teachers, and is Presidents Day.
- All Early Release Days in Semester 2 will be full school days. That includes January 11, February 1, March 1, and April 12. By shifting those days to full school days, we are able to make up the equivalent of two school days. The Early Release Days in Semester 1 will remain unchanged.
Pinellas County
Students returned to Pinellas County schools on Monday, Oct. 3.
No make-up days are needed, the district said.
Polk County
Students returned to Polk County schools on Tuesday, Oct. 4.
In a statement, the district said no time missed during Hurricane Ian will have to be made up.
"State of Florida requires that schools operate for 180 days or an equivalent number of instructional hours," spokesperson Jason Geary said in an email. "We are fortunate that our instructional schedule exceeds the state’s requirements. As a result, we will not have to make up any of the five days we were closed due to the hurricane."
Sarasota County
Sarasota County schools are reopening in phases, as crews are still working to repair damage in some of the harder-hit areas of the county.
South county schools in Sarasota and Venice will reopen on Monday, Oct. 10.
North county schools in Englewood and North Port are set to reopen on Monday, Oct. 17.
Make-up days have not yet been announced.