About 45 Dallas ISD Schools Considering An Alternative Calendar To Help Ensure Students Don't Fall Too Far Behind

Dallas TX

23 February, 2021

12:20 PM

Description

Press release from the Dallas Independent School District: February 23, 2021 As of Feb. 22, 45 Dallas ISD elementary and middle schools are considering adopting an alternative school year calendar to help ensure students don't fall too far behind academically because of the pandemic. The alternative calendars for the next two school years represent a bold investment, of up to $100 million, to support the Dallas ISD students who need it the most. Forty-two schools are considering adopting an "intersession" calendar, which would extend the school year to start at the beginning of August and end in late June. Click here to see a list of schools considering the intersession calendar. This would create time for five additional intersession weeks spread throughout the year. During the intersession weeks, select students will have opportunities for more personalized attention in smaller groups, while teachers will benefit from additional planning time at the start of every intersession week. Not all students will be asked to attend the extra intersession weeks. Every family at a school considering an intersession calendar is asked to complete this survey. Only schools where the teachers, campus staff and families are strongly in favor of the intersession calendar will move forward with the alternative calendar. School Day Redesign As of Feb. 23, three schools–Edna Rowe and Jack Lowe elementary schools and Boude Storey Middle School–are considering what is being called the "School Day Redesign" calendar, which would extend the school year to start at the beginning of August and end in late June for all students, teachers, and staff. By adopting this calendar, the three schools would be able to reimagine every school day to include more time for teachers to collaborate and prepare, as well as more time for enrichment and acceleration for students. The school would not change the school day hours; start and end times each day would remain the same. Every family at a school considering a school day redesign calendar is asked to complete this survey. Only schools where the teachers, campus staff and families are strongly in favor of the intersession calendar will move forward with the alternative calendar. This press release was produced by the Dallas Independent School District. The views expressed here are the author's own.