Our district’s vision includes success for all students, and we are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to ensure that every student reaches his or her fullest potential. One such idea that has caught our attention is what is called the “Optional Flexible Year Program” – or OFYP. Under this state-allowed program, school districts may adopt a modified school calendar that would allow students who have passed the TAKS to attend up to 10 fewer school days during the regular school year. Students who do not pass the TAKS would attend school on the remaining 10 days and receive special individualized or small group instruction to help them pass those sections of the test that were causing them difficulty. Another option is that districts may use OFYP for credit recovery. In this scenario, students who are not passing a class would have the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the subject within those 10 days and possibly receive credit for the course, within certain guidelines. Right now, we are only examining this opportunity for our high school students. By offering these students extra help in a smaller class setting during the regular school year, our hope is that we can help them to pass their courses and the TAKS to graduate on time.
At this point, we are still looking into this option. What do you think? I would like to hear your thoughts, as parents, on how this program would be received by our community. Please share your ideas as to whether this type of approach would benefit our students.
Dr. Henrie,
ReplyDeleteAs a parent, I would be in favor of a modified school calendar. I think the optional 10 days would be very helpful to the student that is just needing that little extra help. I think it is certainly an idea that is worth pursuing. This would give the graduating senior the opportunity to graduate with his/her class and the underclassmen would not have to retake an entire semester. My only concern would be accountability.
We will continue our study and appreciate your response. Thank you for taking the time to submit a comment.
ReplyDeleteDr. Henrie,
ReplyDeleteI also think this could be a win/win situation for students/teachers alike. Teachers could get the additional one on one that they may need with students and it would also be a win for those students that need the additional help. I agree that it may help those seniors graduate with their class as well as it may give others a little more to strive for. If a student knows they have 10 less instruction days if they work a little harder on the front end I believe they may do that. I know that I have a son in High School and he will go to school sick just so he doesn't have to take exams. I believe that if they knew if they tried a little harder, did the extra tutoring it would allow them to also have that additional time off.
I have a co-worker that her son has this opportunity where they live and she said it really seems to have the kids geared up to try harder.
I would like to see us, as a district, at least trial it.
Thank you for your comment. Most of the calendars we have seen schedule graduation prior to the additional days, so students graduate with the summer school. However, there are many details to work out if we decide to implement OFYP.
ReplyDeleteI am not opposed to the OFYP, however when a student is making straight A's but struggles with TAKS, I think the 10 days would seem like a punishment for them. I oppose TAKS altogether! It is not a true picture of a students ability.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. We will share your concern with others as we continue our review.
ReplyDeleteDr. Henrie,
ReplyDeleteI think that is a great idea.With that being kind of a motivational perk for these kids, I think it would make them work harder to focus more and pass their tests.I also am not crazy about them having to take the TAKS, I think that the students should have a year end exam and not a state test that puts so much pressure and stress on these kids.
Dr. Henrie
ReplyDeleteThere are some students who are not good test takers they freeze under pressure and stress. I believe this gives those students an excellent option {a do over if you will}. I don't see this as a punishment {as I do your attendance policy} but a viable option for our students to move forward instead of repeating the same grade. If this is implemented I would be very interested in the success rate.
Thank you for your feedback. Your thoughts will be shared with others as we continue our study of this flexible scheduling program.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your input. We will continue our study and will include your comments for those involved.
ReplyDeleteDr. Henrie,
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think about doing this plan with those in the lower elementary grades? Specifically those who are not passing TPRI and can't read on grade level. What a wonderful opportunity for the teachers and the struggling student to try to find success. Let's get them before they get to TAKS!
We are taking this one step at a time and have not discussed elementary grades up to this point. Many of our elementary schools are able to hire additional personnel and work with small groups during the school day. However, we will share your comment with others. Thank you for your input.
ReplyDeleteI think the 10 less days of school is a great incentive for those students who need a little extra incentive to do their best on the test the first time so they do not have to retake the test. It is also a wonderful bonus for those who pass the test year after year. I feel the district does not do enough to recognize those who perform exemplary year after year on the test.
ReplyDeleteI think this would be a great incentive to students that do not take their TAKS tests seriously.
ReplyDeleteAlso this could be a reward to students that choose to go the extra mile in their studies.
For students who struggle, this could give them extra help where it is needed.
Thank you for your comment and opinion.
ReplyDeletewhat a great concept! students that are a ahead of fellow classmates get the break to re-energize without being bored as they wait for their struggling classmates. Struggling classmates get what they really need- more one on one time with teachers to improve without feeling inadequate in front of their classmates.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. Though we are continuing to study this concept, we appreciate your feedback and will share it with those working on the project.
ReplyDeleteThis year seniors are graduating a week earlier. Would the flexible schedule have the seniors out at the same time as the others who passed TAKS? I am supportive of having this incentive. I am still trying to understand how it works.
ReplyDeleteIt's my understanding that implementing this program would mean losing all built-in staff development days which are used by teachers to learn new teaching strategies, share ideas for student success, implement cross curriculum strategies, learn strategies for helping LEP students be successful, and so on. My concern is that if we lose the staff development days, opportunities for those trainings will be few and far between. Teachers and students alike benefit from the staff development days scattered throughout the school year. Teachers have an opportunity to learn and rest as well as giving students a day off to rest a little. If the OFYP is implemented, I would really like to find a way to keep some staff development days integrated into the school year.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. I agree that professional development is a very important part of our continuous improvement. High school principals have been asked to include their plans for scheduling time for professional development using the flexible year schedule.
ReplyDeleteThe seniors would be released at the same time as long as they had met all requirements for graduation. If you have specific questions, please contact my office to be referred to the person coordinating this study. Thank you for submitting your comment.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I know of OFYP, I am not in favor of losing the Staff Development days. Those are very important for teachers as well as students. The public needs more information on the mechanics of how OFYP would work.
ReplyDeleteAnother area of concern is the question of rewarding successful students with ten days off of school while struggling classmates attend. What is that saying to our students about becoming lifelong learners? An option I would like to see investigated would be accelerated instruction in groups for those students who do not need remediation. Let's stretch their minds and higher level thinking skills.
Thank you for your comment. As you may be aware, the Board voted to approve the OFYP for a 2-year pilot in May. We are considering some enrichment opportunities for those who wish to participate; however, a decision has not been made about how that would look. I will forward your comments to the individual facilitating this program.
ReplyDelete