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Agenda for today’s 1:00 Senate Education Committee hearing on a balanced calendar (aka, year-round school). @MissDeptEd will also provide an update on implementation of Mississippi Connects.
Hearing begins. Speakers will include reps of @srebeducation, @CorinthSchools and @CMSD_Falcons. Chairman DeBar explains hearing DOES NOT indicate pending mandate for year-round; rather, to learn more about districts’ experience with such.
Dr Stephen Pruitt w/ @srebeducation shares about 4,000 schools in US (approx 10%) have year-round w/ most on 1 of 3 models:
Arguments for year-round school as presented by @srebeducation ...
Arguments against year-round school as presented by @srebeducation
Data does not prove year-round calendar as the sole way to increase student achievement.
There are critical questions to consider regarding year-round school.
Dr. Lee Childress, superintendent of @CorinthSchools, shares Corinth refers to a “modified calendar,” rather than “year-round school.” Says the district moved to this calendar w/ goals of achievement, growth, and equity.
Dr. Childress shares @CorinthSchools larger picture for a modified calendar was to move to a higher degree of learning for the district’s students.
Childress stresses planning on the front end when considering a modified calendar, incl conversations w/ community leaders & orgs, incl daycares. When teachers said, “This is right thing to do for our students,” the district moved forward.
Childress shares organizational issues to consider: transportation, food services, personnel, building maintenance, assessment, and funding (Title I, IV, & local).
Childress considers remediation for students during 3-week fall break, rather than in summer, much more effective. @CorinthSchools offers foundational studies, as well as enrichment.
Childress wraps up his comments by sharing key findings from @CorinthSchools modified calendar experience.
Childress had shared parents/community would probably revolt if @CorinthSchools went back to traditional calendar. When asked by @bricewigginsMS what parents like best, Childress points out flexibility, especially as it relates to opportunities for family vacation & travel.
Childress shares @CorinthSchools have navigated athletics with its modified calendar
In questioning, Childress clarifies cost of 1 intercession period (3-weeks) is $125,000. District has 2 intercessions and a shorter summer session ($25K). He estimates 60% of students participate in intercession w/ most doing so for remediation.
Dr. Cherie Labat of @CMSD_Falcons shares her district interested in year-round/modified calendar due to socio economic challenges of her community & benefits year-round provides to address the summer slide, and now the COVID slide.
State Superintendent of Education. Dr. Carey Wright shares @MissDeptEd supports modified calendar and will be happy to work w/ any district interested in pursuing. Stresses planning and finances are critical.
Final speaker: John Kraman, @MissDeptEd CIO, provides Mississippi Connects update to senators. As of 11/6/20, 185,000 devices have been delivered.
