The Scottish government is to change the law to make sure children spend a minimum of 25 hours a week in class.
It follows rows over attempts by some councils to reduce the length of the school week to help balance their books.
Nobody in the mainstream has seriously argued that a cut in the school week would actually help improve children's attainment.
Councils which have looked at the idea would argue they have done so out of financial necessity. Their argument has, essentially, been that a cut in the school week for some is a "least worst option".
When West Dunbartonshire advanced the idea earlier this year, they argued that the cut would affect things such as assemblies and "golden time" - not actual teaching time in the classroom.
The savings come, for instance, by reducing the number of hours when the building itself is open.
Parents have often reacted angrily to the proposals though. Quite apart from any concern they may have about their children's education suffering, some would face practical problems with childcare.
With local government funding tight, the problem comes with the amount of flexibility councils have to find the best ways to balance their books.
Education in Scotland is, essentially, a national service which councils are entrusted to deliver.
There are many nationally set rules and guidelines. For instance, teachers' pay and conditions are standardised across Scotland and there are already minimum requirements on the number of days when schools have to be opened.
Councils get the bulk of their money from the Scottish government and the latest funding deal commits councils to maintaining the number of teachers - even though some had argued that was not necessarily the best use of their resources.
Councils are under a legal obligation to balance their books. If one potential option for savings is closed, inevitably, it could lead to greater pressure on another service.
Local government organisation Cosla is also angry about the government's announcement, claiming there had been a lack of consultation.
Some in local government argue councils need greater financial freedom to be able to properly respond to local needs.
They see the current financial settlement as something of a straightjacket because they have little real control over the overall size of their budget.
A report in the next few weeks by a commission set up by the Scottish government and Cosla will outline various alternatives to the council tax - the tax which typically raises around 15p of every pound councils spend.
In some council chambers, there will be disappointment if the debate is not widened to also look at whether councils should be less dependent on central government for cash and have more options on how to raise money locally.

Mark Stoneman (61) and Keaton Jenning's opening partnership of 96 helped Durham reach 180-5 from their 20 overs.
Glos slumped to 6-2 and 61-6 but Jack Taylor (80) staged a fightback, scoring nearly half of his side's runs.
But when Taylor was run out, Durham deservedly joined Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire in the semi-finals.
Relive Durham's win over Gloucestershire as it happened
Durham's victory was significantly aided by some smart fielding that led to four run outs, as seven of Gloucestershire's batsmen failed to reach double figures.
But for Taylor's resilient 80 from 41 balls, which included five sixes and seven fours, the visitors could have won by a huge margin.
Neither side have ever won the T20 Blast and, while Durham's bid for a first T20 crown goes on, Gloucestershire are now set for a trophyless 2016.
Glamorgan host Yorkshire in the fourth quarter-final on Thursday.
The reaction by some in local government to moves to stop the length of the primary school week being cut is, ultimately, more about money than education.
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Durham produced a dominant 19-run win to reach the 2016 T20 Blast Finals Day by knocking out South Group winners Gloucestershire in the quarter-finals.