Sandy Hook students to have shorter school year

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Students at the Sandy Hook Elementary School will not have to make up the days they missed in the wake of last month's massacre in Newtown.

The state Board of Education on Wednesday granted a waiver shortening their school year from the mandatory 180 days to 177 days. The school district originally had planned a 183-day school year.

The Sandy Hook school was closed after the Dec. 14 shooting that left 20 students and six faculty members dead.

The more than 400 students from the school returned to classes on Jan. 4 at a former middle school in Monroe that was renovated for them.

Because of an already planned holiday break, students missed just six scheduled days of classes.

The General Assembly in December passed legislation allowing for the waiver.