The Austin School District announced that it would introduce late start dates at high schools 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:
“This creative scheduling gives us the opportunity 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 two of the most critical issues that must be addressed to improve teaching and learning and to sustain redesign changes in our high schools.
To accommodate the change, the high school libraries and cafeterias will be open for students who arrive early. Lunches and bus schedules will also run 1hour late to accommodate the change, District officials said.
