This report covers TEA’s HB 3 in 30 video on the extended school year. The video highlights design considerations, planning and implementation, and the Additional Days Planning Grant. The video can be found here.
This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics the committee took up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the hearing, but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.
- HB 3 adds half-day formula funding for school systems that want to add instructional days to any of their elementary schools.
- The school system must meet for a minimum of 180 days and then can add up to 30 additional days.
- Half-day funding could be used for increasing teachers’ salaries and towards school operations.
- Districts are already required to meet 75,600 minutes in the existing academic calendar. Those who are not participating will still be held to that requirement.
- HB 3 statute requires participating districts to meet those 75,600 minutes plus a minimum of 180 non-waivered days before they are eligible for HB 3 funds to kick in.
- There are currently three design considerations for districts to consider.
- Option 1: Optional Summer Learning
- A traditional 180-day calendar and up to 30 days for summer programming.
- This model allows for remediation in preparation for the following year and minimizes length of the summer break for target students.
- Option 2: Intersessional Calendar
- 180 days spaced out over the full year with occasional breaks for target remediation with a subset of students.
- This model allows for immediate remediation for target subset of students and maximizes teacher attendance to increase planning and support.
- Option 3: Full Year Redesign
- A new 210 day calendar with daily schedule changes to increase teacher planning time and student play.
- This model would provide approximately 500 hours for additional teacher planning and student breaks.
- Legal Considerations for Districts:
- Districts are still required by TEC 25.0811 to start their academic calendar on the fourth Monday of August.
- State testing windows remain the same for all tested subjects and courses regardless of additional days participation.
- Districts must plan for 2 bad weather make-up days.
- Students are not required to attend any of the additional days as per TEC 25.0811(a).
- Funding for Additional Days School Year is calculated on a per-pupil basis.
- Legal Considerations for Funding:
- Even though ADSY provides half-day funding, districts should offer full-day services.
- TEA will be proposing required hours for additional days.
- Districts may coordinate funding with other funding sources.
- In the 2020-21 academic year, districts choosing to add days must front the cash for the program.
- The Additional Days Planning Grant will provide districts with up to $125,000 for initial local planning activities. However, this grant will only be available if the district is planning on using option 3; the full- year redesign.
- Starting spring 2020
- For the districts who were awarded planning grants will be eligible for an additional $25,000 to support implementation.
- Grant Requirements:
- School districts who are choosing to use option 3 to redesign the annual school calendar,
- School districts have a dedicated grant-funded district-level project manager, and
- School districts have a signed letter of commitment from their superintendent to implement the plan
- Priority Indicators include campuses with an understanding of performance needs and have a high percentage of low-income students.
- January – February 2020 is the grant application window.
- April – May 2020 is when TEA announces awards and the grant program starts.