Late Start Dates
The Austin School District announced that it would introduce late start dates at high schools this academic year, as part of the teacher in-service training component of High School Redesign .
Teachers will have professional development from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and classes will start at 10:15 a.m. on the following Thursdays:
- September 27, 2007
- October 4, 2007
- November 1, 2007
- November 29, 2007
- December 6, 2007
- January 17, 2008
- January 31, 2008
- February 14, 2008
- March 27, 2008
- April 3, 2008
- April 10, 2008
“This creative scheduling gives us the opportunity for us to provide quality instructional planning time and enhanced opportunities for curriculum development needed for successful high school redesign,” said Superintendent Pat Forgione. “It also reduces lost instructional time because it reduces the number of all-day workshops.”
District officials said that other benefits of this type of professional development schedule develops peer instructional capacity among teachers and creates time for teachers to work collaboratively. Professional development and common planning time for teachers have emerged as of two the most critical issues that must be addressed to improve teaching and learning and to sustain redesign changes in our high schools
Last year, two high schools, Akins and Anderson, piloted a late start at their schools. The results were positive, school officials said. An on-line survey of parents at Anderson and Akins found that a majority of parents – 63%-- supported the use of the late start school day as a way to provide professional support to teachers.
To accommodate the change, the high school libraries and cafeterias will be open for students who arrive early. Lunches and bus schedules-run 1hour late- will also be altered to accommodate the change, District officials said.
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