The flu and wintry weather are both major concerns.

Some eastern Kentucky schools have been in session for just three weeks in the last two months.

Some at those schools say the shortened calendar is giving them less time to prepare for state testing.

Students returned Tuesday after a long break for snow and illness and found out they'll be in school through June 2nd now just to make-up all the missed days.

The big concern is CATS testing because testing dates don't change, so each day missed is one less day to prepare.

The countdown to CATS testing is on. There are only 40 school days left until testing starts, but some Betsy Layne High students aren't sure they'll be ready.

“The CATS testing will probably be a little iffy for us because we haven't been over half the material we should have yet,” Rebecca Ratliff said.

It's a situation out of their control.

Administrators say they've only had class 16 days since Christmas Break. Snow and illness kept closing school.

Both teachers and students say missing so many days hurts.

Betsy Layne students and staff are aiming to score 85 this year, but say each day missed makes it harder to reach their goal.

Administrators say they have proof. Two years ago, Floyd County missed only five days before testing.

Betsy Layne teachers say that year students scored the best they'd seen.

“I think that kind of shows you a little bit about the importance of being in school on a routine basis,” Principal Brent Rose said.

They say they can't do anything about this year's missed days before testing.

State education board directors say they don't have daily data to know which school districts go the most days before testing to know if this could affect scores.

CATS tests start April 21st.