A House panel on Tuesday supported launching a pilot program of year-round schools, with the plan’s sponsor suggesting it could help students recover from learning losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. State law requires school boards to operate public schools for 180 days a year or the hourly equivalent, but schools are able to operate on year-round schedules, a House staff analysis said. The House Choice & Innovation Subcommittee unanimously approved a bill (HB 891) that would set up a pilot program for four years, with a goal of studying “benefits” of a year-long school schedule.