Orange Unified School District

Transcription

1 Orange Unified School District 1 Board Member Request to Discuss Student Calendar In February of 2017, a member of the Board of Education made a request to discuss the student calendar. During the discussion of that item, it was requested that the District explore the pros and cons of a school calendar with an earlier start date. Based on that request, the District Student Calendar Committee has held several meetings to review and discuss that topic. Tonight's presentation is a result of those discussions. 2 1

2 Board Policy 6111 School Calendar Board Policy 6111, School Calendar states: The school calendar shall show the beginning and ending of school dates, legal and local holidays, orientation meeting days, number of teaching days, vacation periods and other pertinent dates. The Superintendent or designee shall recommend to the Board of Education a school calendar that will meet the requirements of the law as well as the needs of the community, students, and the work year as negotiated for all personnel. 3 District Student Calendar Committee Representatives of Elementary Education: Anne Truex, Executive Director, Elementary Education; and Lydia Roach, Principal, La Veta Elementary School; Representatives of Secondary Education: Dustin Saxton, Principal, El Modena High School; and Jill Katevas, Principal, Portola Middle School; Representatives of Employee Associations: Jen Pettey, OUEA; Susan Brummitt, CSEA; Other representatives include: Denise MacAllister, Special Education; Christina Lin, Assessment and IS; Patricia Reeves, Nutrition Services; Pam McDonald, Transportation; Kathleen Franks, Attendance; Ed Kissee and Ernie Gonzalez, Human Resources. Representatives of the District charter schools are invited. 4 2

3 & Board Approved Calendars 5 Current Parameters for Student Calendar The OUSD student calendar is based on the Modified Traditional Track calendar model which was developed from the previous single track and traditional calendars. This calendar adjustment provides a significant annual savings to the District budget (about half a million dollars saved per year). The features of the current Modified Traditional Track calendar model include: An 180 day student instructional year; School beginning before Labor Day; A one week recess at Thanksgiving; Three full instructional weeks between the Thanksgiving and Winter breaks; A three week recess for Winter break; A one week recess for Spring break; School ends on the Thursday of the second full week in June. 6 3

4 Information Requested Regarding Earlier Start Date Based on the Board request, the District Student Calendar Committee focused on the following items in addressing the information request from the Board: 1. Comparison of Neighboring School District Calendars; 2. Local College/University Summer Programs and OUSD; 3. Advantages of Completing First Semester before Winter Break; 4. Impact of Calendar on AP, IB, and other Test/Assessment Schedules; 5. Impact of Calendar on Teacher Preparation; 6. Impact on Air Conditioning Costs; 7. Teacher Input; 8. Parent Input. 7 Comparison of Neighboring School Districts The start dates of student calendars for school districts in Orange County generally follow three patterns (Districts with High Schools are shown below): Traditional Start: School starting after Labor Day and ending in late June, with first semester ending after winter break. (13% of OC Districts w/high Schools) Laguna Beach USD (9/5/17), Newport Mesa USD (9/5/17) Before Labor Day Start: School starting before Labor Day (second half of August) and ending in mid-june, with first semester usually ending after winter break. (53% of OC Districts w/high Schools) Brea-Olinda USD (8/29/17), Capistrano USD (8/22/17), Garden Grove USD (8/30/17), Huntington Beach UHSD (8/30/17), Irvine USD (8/24/17), Orange USD (8/23/17), Placentia-Yorba Linda USD (8/29/17), Saddleback Valley USD (8/28/17) Early August Start: School starting in the first half of August and ending around Memorial Day (just before or after), with first semester ending before winter break. (33% of OC Districts w/high Schools) Anaheim UHSD (8/9/17), Fullerton JUHSD (8/14/17), Los Alamitos USD (8/30/17, 8/8/18), Santa Ana USD (8/14/17), Tustin USD (8/22/17, 8/14/18) 8 4

5 Comparison of Neighboring School Districts Start Dates for OC School Districts Serving High School Students 9 Local College and University Summer Programs College/University (Program) Start Date End Date Santiago Canyon College (Summer 2018) 6/18/2018 8/13/2018 Santa Ana College (Summer 2017*) 6/19/2017 8/13/2017 CSU Fullerton (Summer 2017*) 5/30/2017 8/4/2017 CSU Long Beach (Summer Session #1 2018) 5/29/2018 7/6/2018 CSU Long Beach (Summer Session #2 2018) 5/29/2018 8/17/2018 CSU Long Beach (Summer Session #3 2018) 7/9/2018 8/17/2018 UC Irvine ( Summer Session I 2018) 6/25/2018 8/1/2018 UC Irvine ( Summer Session II 2018) 8/6/2018 9/12/2018 UC Irvine ( Summer Session 10WK 2018) 6/25/2018 8/31/2018 Chapman University (Summer Session I 2018) 5/29/2018 7/7/2018 Chapman University (Summer Session II 2018) 5/29/2018 7/28/2018 Chapman University (Summer Session III 2018) 7/9/2018 8/18/2018 Chapman University (Summer Session IV 2018) 5/29/2018 8/18/2018 Chapman University (Summer Session V 2018) 6/25/2018 8/17/2018 (*2018 Summer Schedule not yet available) Sessions not in conflict with OUSD Spring calendar 10 5

6 Completion of First Semester Before Winter Break Positives: Ending the first semester prior to Winter Recess allows first term exams to be completed before the holidays. Effect on Student Achievement: It has not been demonstrated that a change in the timing of semester final exams results in either increased or reduced student achievement. There is no effect on K-8 instruction in OUSD because K-8 is on the trimester system in OUSD. Issues: Ending first semester prior to Winter Recess would require one or more of the following adjustments to the student calendar. Start school in early/mid-august; Reduce Thanksgiving recess; Delay and/or reduce Winter recess; Reduce days in first semester and increase days in second semester. 11 Impact on AP, IB, and Test/Assessment Schedules Exam/Assessment Start Date End Date Scholastic Math Inventory (SMI) # /28/2017 9/22/2017 Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) # /28/2017 9/22/2017 OUSD College Board Day (PSAT/SAT) /11/ /11/2017 International Baccalaureate (IB) Exams - Fall /27/ /17/2017 Scholastic Math Inventory (SMI) # /4/2017 1/19/2018 Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) # /4/2017 1/19/2018 EL Proficiency Assessment for California (ELPAC) /1/2018 3/31/2018 Physical Fitness Testing (PFT) /1/2018 3/31/2018 International Baccalaureate (IB) Exams - Spring /26/2018 5/18/2018 Advanced Placement (AP) Exams /7/2018 5/18/2018 Scholastic Math Inventory (SMI) # /14/2018 6/8/2018 Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) # /14/2018 6/8/2018 California Alternative Assessment (CAA) /20/2018 6/14/2018 California Science Test (CAST) /20/2018 6/14/2018 Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) /20/2018 6/14/

7 Impact of the Calendar on Teacher Preparation The District is obligated to provide teachers with one noninstructional preparation day prior to the start of school, as well as a defined preparation period during every instructional day. A change in dates for the school calendar would not affect this obligation. 13 Impact on Air Conditioning Costs The National Weather Service describes the units of measure used to estimate the cost of cooling or heating for a given period of time in a specific location. These units of measure are called Heating Degree Days when estimating the cost of heating and Cooling Degree Days when estimating the cost of air conditioning. AccordingtotheNational Weather Service, degree days are based on the assumption that when the outside temperature is at a certain point, heating or cooling is not necessary. Degree days are the difference between the daily temperature mean, (high temperature plus low temperature divided by two) and 65 F. If the temperature mean is above 65 F, then 65 is subtracted from the mean and the result is found in Cooling Degree Days. If the temperature mean is below 65 F, the mean is subtracted from 65 and the result is reported as Heating Degree Days. 14 Example from the National Weather Service: The high temperature for a particular day was 90 F and the low temperature was 66 F. The temperature mean for that day was: (90 F + 66 F)/2 = 78 F. Because the result is above 65 F: 78 F - 65 F = 13 Cooling Degree Days 7

8 Impact on Air Conditioning Costs Comparison of Average "Cooling Degree Days" between the 1st 15 Days of June and August Month Day Avg High Avg Mean Avg Low CDD Month Day Avg High Avg Mean Avg Low CDD % Inc/Dcr June August % June August % June August % June August % June August % June August % June August % June August % June August % June August % June August % June August % June August % June August % June August % Total Avg Cooling Degree Days (June 1-15) 76 Total Avg Cooling Degree Days (Aug 1-15) % 15 Note - The cost for electricity during selected months in was as follows: August = $297,674; September = $405,738; May = $264, 853; June = $217,404 Other Potential Cost Impacts Possible Impact on Student Attendance: In at least one District with an early August start, it has been reported that there has been an issue with decreased enrollment at the beginning of the year based on families traveling and not returning on time to begin school. It has also been reported that senior disengagement at the end of the school year has not changed, but rather has shifted to follow the new calendar. 16 Possible Impact on Cash Flow: An early August start would make August a work month, possibly resulting in an earlier pay date for school site staff. The Business Services office has cautioned that an earlier pay date for site staff could cause summer cash flow issues when there are State deferrals. This would result in the District needing to create an additional cash reserve for the general fund for the early summer. Such a scenario could require the issuance of Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes (TRANs) which would incur borrowing costs. 8

9 Teacher Input The District Student Calendar Committee took a straw poll of teachers in the District to determine which calendar pattern would be preferable. Teachers were asked if they were given a choice of the typical student calendar patterns in Orange County School Districts, which would they choose for OUSD? The options presented were: 1. Traditional Start: School starting after Labor Day and ending in late June, with first semester ending after winter break. 2. Before Labor Day Start: School starting before Labor Day (usually in late August) and ending in mid-june, with first semester ending after winter break. (Which is OUSD s current pattern) 3. Early August Start: School starting in the first half of August and ending around Memorial Day (just before or after), with first semester ending before winter break. 17 Teacher Input OUSD Teacher Preference for Start Date Traditional Start Current Model Early/Mid Aug Start 18 9

10 Teacher Input OUSD Teacher Preference for Start Date Traditional or Current Start Early/Mid Aug Start 19 Summary of Information Reported in Other Districts It was found that the reasons usually given by School Districts for moving student start dates to early/mid-august are: 1. End first semester prior to Winter Break; 2. More classroom instructional time prior to AP tests; 3. Graduating senior participation in college summer programs. It was found that the reasons generally given for not moving student start dates to early/mid-august are: 1. Increased air conditioning costs; 2. Possible loss of attendance; 3. Community and/or staff resistance. The District Student Calendar Committee found no data that placement of semester final exams before winter break or moving up the end of the year to coincide with AP exams resulted in either increased or reduced student achievement

11 Orange Unified School District Next Steps? October 5,

12 ORANGE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT student calendar Serving the communities of the Orange Unified School District for over sixty years JULY 2017 AUGUST 2017 SEPTEMBER Independence Day 18, 21 Staff Development Days No Students 4 Labor Day 22 Teacher Prep Day No Students 23 First Day of Instruction Instructional Days: 0 Instructional Days: 7 Instructional Days: 20 OCTOBER 2017 NOVEMBER 2017 DECEMBER Parent Conf. (Elem) Min Days 7 Staff Development Day No Students Dec. 18, 2017 Jan. 5, 2018: Winter Break 25 End of 1st Quarter Minimum Day 10 Veterans Day (Observed) High School 17 End of Trimester Minimum Day Elementary & Middle School Thanksgiving Break Instructional Days: 22 Instructional Days: 15 Instructional Days: 11 JANUARY 2018 FEBRUARY 2018 MARCH Dec. 18, 2017 Jan. 5, 2018: Winter Break 16 Lincoln Day observed 13 End of 2nd Trimester Min Day 15 Martin Luther King Jr. Day 19 Washington Day Elementary & Middle School 25 Minimum Day High School 30 End of 3rd Quarter Min Day HS 26 End of 2nd Quarter Min Day HS Instructional Days: 17 Instructional Days: 18 Instructional Days: 22 APRIL 2018 MAY 2018 JUNE Spring Break 28 Memorial Day 1 Minimum Day Elementary & Middle School 13 Minimum Day High School 14 Last Day of Instruction Minimum Day 15 Teacher Day No Students Instructional Days: 16 Instructional Days: 22 Instructional Days: 10 Total: 180 Rev Orange Unified School District, 1401 N. Handy St. Orange, CA OUSD Website Board Approval:

13 ORANGE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT student calendar Serving the communities of the Orange Unified School District for sixty-five years JULY 2018 AUGUST 2018 SEPTEMBER Independence Day 17, 20 Staff Development Days No Students 3 Labor Day 21 Teacher Prep Day No Students 22 First Day of Instruction Instructional Days: 0 Instructional Days: 8 Instructional Days: 19 OCTOBER 2018 NOVEMBER 2018 DECEMBER Parent Conf. (Elem) Min Days 6 Staff Development Day No Students Dec.17, 2018 Jan. 4, 2019: Winter Break 24 End of 1st Quarter Minimum Day 12 Veterans Day (Observed) High School 16 End of Trimester Minimum Day Elementary & Middle School Thanksgiving Break Instructional Days: 23 Instructional Days: 15 Instructional Days: 10 JANUARY 2019 FEBRUARY 2019 MARCH Dec.17, 2018 Jan. 4, 2019: Winter Break 15 Lincoln Day observed 12 End of 2nd Trimester Min Day 21 Martin Luther King Jr. Day 18 Washington Day Elementary & Middle School 24 Minimum Day High School 29 End of 3rd Quarter Min Day HS 25 End of 2nd Quarter Min Day HS Instructional Days: 18 Instructional Days: 18 Instructional Days: 21 APRIL 2019 MAY 2019 JUNE Spring Break 27 Memorial Day 12 Minimum Day High School 31 Minimum Day Elementary 13 Last Day of Instruction Minimum Day & Middle School 14 Teacher Day No Students Instructional Days: 17 Instructional Days: 22 Instructional Days: 9 Total: Rev Orange Unified School District, 1401 N. Handy St. Orange, CA OUSD Website Board Approval:

14 ORANGE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT student calendar Serving the communities of the Orange Unified School District for more than sixty-five years JULY 2019 AUGUST 2019 SEPTEMBER DRAFT 4 Independence Day 16, 19 Staff Development Days No Students 2 Labor Day 20 Teacher Prep Day No Students 21 First Day of Instruction Instructional Days: 0 Instructional Days: 8 Instructional Days: 20 OCTOBER 2019 NOVEMBER 2019 DECEMBER Parent Conf. (Elem) Min Days 5 Staff Development Day No Students Dec.23, 2019 Jan. 10, 2020: Winter Break 23 End of 1st Quarter Minimum Day 11 Veterans Day High School 15 End of Trimester Minimum Day Elementary & Middle School Thanksgiving Break Instructional Days: 23 Instructional Days: 14 Instructional Days: 15 JANUARY 2020 FEBRUARY 2020 MARCH Dec.23, 2019 Jan. 10, 2020: Winter Break 14 Lincoln Day observed 10 End of 2nd Trimester Min Day 20 Martin Luther King Jr. Day 17 Washington Day Elementary & Middle School 23 Minimum Day High School 27 End of 3rd Quarter Min Day HS 24 End of 2nd Quarter Min Day HS March 30 April 3: Spring Break Instructional Days: 14 Instructional Days: 18 Instructional Days: 20 APRIL 2020 MAY 2020 JUNE March 30 April 3: Spring Break 25 Memorial Day 10 Minimum Day High School 29 Minimum Day Elementary 11 Last Day of Instruction Minimum Day & Middle School 12 Teacher Day No Students Instructional Days: 19 Instructional Days: 20 Instructional Days: 9 Total: 180 Rev Orange Unified School District, 1401 N. Handy St. Orange, CA OUSD Website Board Approval: DRAFT