Should Wisconsin stop mandating instructional hours?

Gov. Scott Walker’s budget calls for eliminating a state law that mandates a minimum number of hours and days of instruction for students, apparently making Wisconsin the only state without such a law.​

The proposal also would free virtual charter schools from having to ensure that teachers are available for direct pupil instruction for a minimum number of hours each year.

RELATED: Scott Walker's K-12 budget drops hours of instruction mandate

Is this a good idea? Tell us what you think?

Here are the arguments:

►Supporters argue that getting rid of the mandate “would allow schools to be more innovative with instructional time and that state report cards would hold them accountable for outcomes such as student attendance, achievement, academic improvement and graduation rates,” according to a Journal Sentinel story by Erin Richards.

►Opponents worry, though, that taking away the baseline for instructional hours could have unintended consequences, especially in districts where many students are struggling, Richards reported.

Current law calls for Wisconsin schools to provide at least 1,050 instructional hours for first- through sixth-graders and at least 1,137 instructional hours for seventh- through 12th-graders. Virtual schools have to ensure teachers are available for direct pupil instruction for those same hours and grades and also for at least 437 hours for kindergarten students.

Comment on Facebook or Twitter or send a letter to the editor to jsedit@jrn.com or mail them to Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, P.O. Box 371, Milwaukee, Wis. 53201-0371.

Letters are generally limited to 200 words and are subject to editing, and we'll need your name, address and email address for confirmation purposes.