Pro Tem Moore, the bills sponsor, told the Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Education that Senate Bill 758 aims to restrict the routine use of full-day virtual instruction and ensure that virtual days are used only when "actually needed" and accompanied by actual virtual learning instruction.

The bills sponsors and supporters said the intent is to prevent districts from counting days that provide little or no teacher-led instruction toward required instructional time. "A lot of these kids are going home with no access to any teacher, no access to learning," Pro Tem Moore said during the committee hearing, citing districts that recorded dozens of virtual days in the prior school year.

Why it matters: committee members divided over how the bill would affect districts that operate a four-day school week. Supporters said the bill would protect instructional time for students; opponents warned it could impose new constraints on locally adopted schedules and create administrative burdens.

Opposition and local control concerns

Representative McCain and Representative Waldron spoke for members skeptical of the bills language. McCain said the measure as written is "a bit too narrow" and could unintentionally penalize districts acting in good faith. Waldron warned senators and representatives that the committee should first address the teacher shortage before adding new requirements to districts.

Committee exchange on four-day weeks

Vice Chair Hasenbeck asked whether the bill would change four-day-week districts. Pro Tem Moore responded that the bill does not prohibit a local school board from adopting a four-day week, but it limits the number of virtual instruction days a district may count unless the district satisfies criteria including preapproval of a virtual program by January before the relevant school year.

Debate and vote

During floor debate within the committee, McCain and Waldron each spoke against the bill. Pro Tem Moore said he had seen examples where students received packets with no teacher interaction on virtual days and appealed for a yes vote. The committee recorded a tally of 7 aye and 4 nay; the committee report shows Senate Bill 758 passed out of committee.

What the bill does not do: The committee record shows the bill sets criteria and approval processes for virtual instruction and limits unapproved virtual days, but the text as presented leaves several operational questions (for example, how the state will audit or approve programs) to rulemaking or later specification.

Next steps

The bill was reported out of committee to the next stage of the legislative process. The transcript record does not show subsequent amendments or the exact statutory language the committee relied on for enforcement or penalties.

Ending

Supporters said the bill aims to preserve teacher-led instructional time; opponents cautioned about unintended effects on rural and four-day-week districts and the need to coordinate any change with teacher workforce capacity and local control.