Students in the Faribault schools spend a fewer days in class than students in nearby districts, and scant school funding means that probably won’t change.

The Faribault Daily News reports that Faribault has 172 student contact days, which means students spend that amount of days at school.

It’s 176 days in the Owatonna schools this year. Northfield schools have 173 days this year, and 174 next year. It’s 169 to 175 in the St. Paul district, depending on the grade.

State law lets school districts set their own calendars.

Faribault administrator Liz Keenan says one or two days won’t make much difference in a student’s education.