The head of the Iowa Department of Education has been getting a lot of calls and questions as the number of school days canceled by winter weather continues to mount. Director Ryan Wise says making up the days depends on whether school districts set their yearly calendar based on a set number of hours or a set number of days.

School districts had to tack missed days onto the end of the school year or cut short spring break to make up missed days. The hour option was added with a change in state law in 2014. Wise says it’s become the calendar of choice.

Wise says superintendents do a good job of making those decisions to close school based on the what’s best for the safety of the students and school employees.