TOPEKA (KSNT) - Kansas students may have to make up time later this year after a blizzard forced numerous schools to close for days on end in early 2025.

KSNT 27 News consulted with documents kept by the Kansas Department of Education (KSDE) to learn more about how the recent period of severe weather may impact student's schedules. With more snow a possibility this week, parents may wind up having to keep their children home even longer.

Students with districts like USD 501 in Topeka were expecting to return to their classrooms this week to start off the 2025 semester but ended up staying home due to ice and snow. A blizzard hit much of Kansas on Jan. 5, leaving behind more than 10 inches of snow in some areas, and forced many districts to alter their schedules or close altogether.

Kansas state law regulates how much time students in Kansas need to spend at their designated schools. The KSDE refers to this statute as the 1,116-hour policy which requires that students in kindergarten and between grades one and 11 must spend at least 1,116 hours in school each year. Alternatively, school districts can keep track of the time students must spend in the classroom annually by counting days.

"Subject to the other provisions of this section, a school term during which public school shall be maintained in each school year by each school district organized under the laws of this state shall consist of not less than 186 school days for pupils attending kindergarten or any of the grades one through 11 and not less than 181 school days for pupils attending grade 12."

K.S.A. 72-3115 excerpt

The KSDE states that many school districts have adopted a 1,116-hour policy but continue with their normal 186 day schedule, allowing for some flexibility in the yearly schedule if a school is active for more than six hours. The only exception to the 1,116-hour policy are 12th grade students who must record at least 1,086 hours during the school year.

"Each school district may designate inclement weather days. These days will be reported to KSDE through the SO66 (Superintendents Organizational Report) in the fall. For example, if a school district designates three snow days, then the school district must first make up three snow days on the designated days before any forgiveness is allowed. In this example, the first three days must be made up and the next three days missed because of inclement weather would be forgiven."

KSDE explanation on Kansas snow days

Topeka Public School's academic calendar for the 2025 semester shows that the quarter ends on May 29. The days May 27-29 are marked as 'no school' days pending any unused inclement weather days.

The KSDE reports that any school days missed after six days must be made up before any forgiveness is allowed, including for districts marking time by hours instead of days. One school district, USD 475, canceled classes from Jan. 6 to Jan. 10 due to recent snowy weather with the possibility of other districts following suit due to forecasted snowy weather.

To learn more about the inclement weather policies kept by the KSDE and how they work, click here. To reach the 27 News closings and delays page, click here.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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The draft is three weeks away now. GM Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson have pieced together an off-season that is earning widespread praise across the league. The question is whether they can stick the landing with their 1st round pick in the draft. Current projections have the top three picks likely being a mix of Cam Ward, Travis Hunter, and Abdul Carter. After that, it gets tricky. People in Chicago want to know where running back Ashton Jeanty will end once the dust settles.

Widespread belief has been that the Las Vegas Raiders are the heavy favorites to take him at 6th overall, with New Orleans at #9 also being a possibility. It makes sense. Las Vegas’ best option right now is a 33-year-old Raheem Mostert. New Orleans knows Alvin Kamara turns 30 in July. Both teams need to think about the future at that position. Both have head coaches who like to run the ball. One thing is clear. A source told SM that those around the league believe one thing is certain.

“He likely won’t get passed Chicago if he falls that far.”

Ashton Jeanty is a strong probability for the Bears.

Whispers from Halas Hall indicate they love the Boise State star. It isn’t hard to see why. He nearly broke Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record in 2024, nearly winning the Heisman in the process. The guy carried his team to the college football playoffs. He’s built like a brick house with power, speed, contact balance, and vision. There aren’t any truly glaring weaknesses in his game. He’s earned comparisons to the likes of LaDainian Tomlinson and Marshawn Lynch. The Bears haven’t had a back of that caliber since Matt Forte.

Try to imagine what this offense could look like with Ashton Jeanty, Rome Odunze, D.J. Moore, and Cole Kmet all as options for quarterback Caleb Williams. Throw all of it into Johnson’s offense, and you can understand why some people around the league aren’t wild about the idea. They are quietly hoping Jeanty goes somewhere else. One thing is certain. If he gets past the Raiders, the noise will get loud in a hurry. It would mark the first time in 20 years the Bears have taken a running back in the 1st round.