This comes as a pilot program at C.D. Fulkes and PFC Robert P. Hernandez Middle Schools in the 2024-25 school year showed the shift allowed the campuses to better address the needs of dyslexic students.
What you need to know
Campus administrators presented information about the program's results at the two middle schools at a March 27 board of trustees meeting.
Principals Penny Oates and Ebony Parks, joined by area Superintendents Nancy Guerrero and Patricia Ephlin, told trustees that the program allowed more dedicated time for core subjects and improved elective access for students.
The details
The two test schools were able to accommodate an eighth class period by shaving five minutes off of the original seven, administrators told trustees. This additional class period allows the schools to meet legislative requirements for accelerated instruction as directed by House Bill 1416, and provide support to dyslexic students.
Historically, with only seven class periods, parents have opted for their children not to receive dyslexia support services so they can use the class period to participate in elective courses.
Administrators said campuses with more than 30% of students requiring accelerated instruction and scoring on the lower end of approaches grade level on the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness would be good candidates to shift to the eight period school day.
What they're saying
"We really had to examine our master bell schedules and determine how we could control for allowing students to access accelerated instruction intervention, dyslexia intervention while also ensuring that students had...choice for electives," Ephlin said.
What's next
C.D. Fulkes and Hernandez Middle Schools will continue to utilize the eight period schedule in the 2025-26 school year, administrators said.
Current candidates for campuses that could also utilize this schedule include:
- Grisham Middle School
- Chisholm Trail Middle School
- Hopewell Middle School
- Deerpark Middle School
- Ridgeview Middle School
