Whitman County Gazette - Serving Whitman County since 1877

OLYMPIA — An East Wenatchee senator wants students to have a longer school year.

Sen. Brad Hawkins, R-East Wenatchee, has introduced Senate Bill 5505 to add five days to the school calendar.

“S.B. 5505 takes swift and decisive action to support learning recovery with a simple solution — providing our students with additional access to their teachers, their peers and to dedicated support staff,” Hawkins said.

State law currently requires schools to offer a minimum of 180 classroom days for public school students.

Hawkins’ bill bumps that minimum to 185 days.

Hawkins also said he w...