[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 25, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 25CFR36.20]

[Page 142-143]
 
                            TITLE 25--INDIANS
 
     CHAPTER I--BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
 
PART 36--MINIMUM ACADEMIC STANDARDS FOR THE BASIC EDUCATION OF INDIAN CHILDREN AND NATIONAL CRITERIA FOR DORMITORY SITUATIONS--Table of Contents
 
                Subpart C--Minimum Program of Instruction
 
Sec. 36.20  Standard V--Minimum academic programs/school calendar.


    (a) Each school shall meet the applicable minimum program of 
instruction provided in this subpart and, where applicable, the 
graduation requirements under Sec. 36.32. A school that has difficulty 
in meeting these minimum academic program requirements may seek 
alternative ways of meeting some portions of the minimum program. For 
example, courses may be taught in alternate years. Should a school wish 
to adopt alternative measures, the school shall submit a request for 
approval to the Agency Superintendent for Education or Area Education 
Programs Administrator, as appropriate, for the adoption of alternative 
measures with a written justification as to how this action will meet 
the applicable minimum program of instruction.
    (b) Length of school term and day. All schools shall provide an 
educational program of studies which is conducted for not less that 180 
instructional days per school term. Regular program students shall be in 
instructional activities, exclusive of lunch (which must be at least 30 
minutes a day), in accordance with the following minimums: Kindergarten-
-2.5 instructional hours/day; grades 1-3--4.5 instructional hours/day; 
grades 4-6--5.0 instructional hours/day; grades 7-12--5.5 instructional 
hours/day.
    (c) If an emergency arises from an uncontrollable circumstance 
during the school day which results in the dismissal of students by the 
school administration, the day may be counted as a

[[Page 143]]

school day provided that three-fourths of the instructional hours are 
met.
    (d) The educational program shall include multi-culture and multi-
ethnic dimensions designed to enable students to function effectively in 
a pluralistic society.
    (1) The school's language arts program shall assess the English and 
native language abilities of its students and provide instruction that 
teaches and/or maintains both the English and the primary native 
language of the school population. Programs shall meet local tribal 
approval.
    (2) The school program shall include aspects of the native culture 
in all curriculum areas. Content shall meet local tribal approval.
    (3) The school program shall assess the learning styles of its 
students and provide instruction based upon that assessment. The method 
for assessing learning styles shall be determined at the local level.
    (4) The school program shall provide for at least one field trip per 
child per year to broaden social and academic experiences.
    (e) All intraschool programs (e.g., library, instructional labs, 
physical education, music, etc.) which are directly related to or affect 
student instruction shall provide services from the beginning of the 
school term through the final class period at the close of the school 
term.

[50 FR 36816, Sept. 9, 1985, as amended at 59 FR 61765, Dec. 1, 1994]