The changes will allow elementary teachers to have more time for planning and conference periods, district officials said at a May 19 board of trustees meeting.
What you need to know
GISD elementary schools will have an early release time of 12:55 p.m. on:
- Aug. 29
- Oct. 31
- Dec. 5
- Feb. 6
Also of note
Child care will be available through the YMCA on all early release days, Chief of Staff Lindsay Harris said. Students do not have to enroll in the YMCA's daily after-school program to be eligible.
The YMCA will offer reduced rates for GISD staff members requiring child care on early release days, she said
How we got here
After requesting teacher feedback, the district learned that the elementary school schedule was not allowing educators enough time to collaborate with other teachers, plan and prepare for instruction, Harris said. Teachers needed more time to analyze student data, improve student outcomes, and have a balanced life, district officials said.
The new schedule will allow elementary teachers to have an additional 45-minute period every two weeks on top of their current 45-minute conference period. While some campuses already allocate teachers more planning time, GISD will now ensure that the additional planning period is implemented across all campuses, Harris said.
