Flexible school day program could provide alternatives for Pflugerville ISD students

A proposed program in Pflugerville ISD could provide school schedule alternatives for at-risk students.

The Optional Flexible School Day Program established in the Texas Education Code allows districts to provide more varied instruction schedules for students who need it.

The district will submit an application to the Texas Education Agency to participate in the program next school year. PfISD trustees approved the submission of the application at a March 23 board meeting.

Chief Academic and Innovation Officer Laila Olivarez said the program would be open to Pflugerville Academic and Career Education students as well as high school students who are in danger of dropping out or are behind in core subjects.

Possible schedule alternatives for students participating in the program are night classes, weekend classes and year-round classes.

The rate of at-risk students in PfISD high schools ranges from 45% at Hendrickson High School to 68% at Connally High School, according to Olivarez.

“We really do feel like there could be a need,” Olivarez said. “Some of our students really could use the flexibility of this type of schedule so that they can work or attend internships.”