The Struggle of AMI Days

Story & Graphic by Bailee Council – Assistant Editor

   In the 2020-2021 school year, the DESE, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, began allowing school districts to implement Alternative Methods of Instruction Plans on days when school is not in session due to inclement weather. If bad weather, temperatures, or road conditions make it unsafe for students to get to school, the district will call it an AMI distance learning day. If schools run out of the five AMI days the state allows, they will call it a snow day. 

   “I find it easier learning in person instead of being completely online. When it comes to being online full time you don’t have anyone holding you accountable,” Jodi Williams, senior, said. 

   Students in Missouri used to wait in anticipation of school cancellations due to bad weather conditions. A “snow day” meant a day off from school and time to sleep in late and then play in the snow. However, with the most recent implementation of AMI days, students are still required to complete assignments on those days away. 

   “It is more frustrating when we don’t know until the morning of that day, because we have to scramble to create AMI content. It is also tedious to track “attendance” unless we wait until the next day, which just adds to the tasks of the next day. Additionally, many students will “check in” but not complete the assignment, which leads to having to reteach, rendering the AMI day wasted,” Tracy Wrisinger, math teacher, said. 

   Starting the 2025 semester, the LSR7 district used four of the the five AMI days to get through the first week back for students, soon after the last available AMI day was used. This alone raised concern and irritability from both students and educators. The majority of teachers already find it difficult to integrate students back into the classroom after winter break, however, attempting to make that transition virtually adds more of a challenge for teachers.