Kentucky school leaders can ask Frankfort for more NTI days

On January 21, 2025By Littum

BARBOURVILLE, Ky. (WKYT) – Some school districts in Kentucky are running out of non-traditional instruction days (NTI).

The days were given to districts by the state so students could learn at home due to weather, illness or other problems. More days were used during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in spring 2020.

Knox County has used all of their NTI days for this calendar year.

And it’s been a strange year for some Kentucky school systems. It has been difficult to maintain a routine.

“Normally we only use NTI in January. We have been lucky the last few years. We went through December just fine without canceling school,” Knox Co Schools spokesman Frank Shelton said.

Knox was among the many school districts missing because of the shooting on Interstate 75 and the ensuing manhunt. Back then, several NTI days were used. Then came weather events and the start of the second semester was spent at home instead of in the classroom. All of its 10 NTI days have been used up.

“This session, we’ve reached out to all of our local officials in Frankfort and said this is not typical, this is an emergency. Not just Knox County, but the entire region,” Shelton said.

Knox County is not alone. WKYT did some checking and records show that Rowan county has also used all 10 of their days, with Rockcastle, Estill, Wolfe and Bath counties having a few NTI days left.

Shelton says he is concerned that the last day of school is already May 21. They certainly do not want a repeat of past actions.

“Yes, you had students off on Saturdays. It’s obviously off the books now,” said Shelton, who added that the concern is that they are getting very close to ending the school year in June, which could cause problems with vacations, summer school and other events.

Shelton says NTI isn’t ideal, but it can be a good option.

“But with NTI you can at least keep your brain working, you can review material. You are ready to go with fresh new instruction,” he said.

Knox County returned to school a little earlier than other districts using a snow schedule, and they say attendance was about normal.

If more NTI days are granted, Kentucky lawmakers would have to approve it. Legislative leaders tell WKYT that so far no bills have been filed to provide more NTI days. Lawmakers return to Frankfort on February 4.