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Guía de Planeación de Cursos de Escuela Preparatoria
2022-2023 Denton ISD High School Course Planning Guide - FinalSPANISH.pdf 13.39 MB (Last Modified on July 11, 2022)
Calendar
2022 - 2023 School Calendar FAQs
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A committee of representatives from various campuses and divisions developed the 2022-2023 School Calendar. The most important consideration in calendar design is how it serves the learning purposes of our students.
Several challenges our students and staff have faced during the previous three school years have created a greater need for teacher collaboration, instructional adjustments and data disaggregation by professional educators more than at any other time in history.
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What specific criteria must our school calendar meet?
- Must provide 187 teacher contract days
- Must provide a minimum of 75,600 instructional minutes
- Embeds weather make-up days
- Allows for 180 instructional days
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What priorities were established through surveying and public comment?
- Abbreviated first week of school
- Embedded ongoing planning time consistently throughout the year
- Embedded student and staff breaks throughout the year
- Maintaining traditional holiday break schedules (week at Thanksgiving, at least two weeks of winter break and full week of spring break).
- Provides opportunities for effective staff development
- Fall semester concludes prior to Winter Break
- Spring semester concludes prior to Memorial Day
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What does an abbreviated first week of school do to serve students and staff?
A shortened first week of school enables students to attend all classes, meet new teachers, learn expectations and transition back into routine.
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Why do we have more early release days during the school year this year?
Our professional educators have experienced greater obstacles in both teaching and ensuring students learn more than at any other time in history. A traditional calendar restricts our educators’ ability to collaborate, review student learning data, and plan for necessary adjustments to instruction. By embedding at least one early release day a month, teachers will have dedicated time to plan instruction and review current student performance in order to adjust instruction for all students in a grade level or content area.
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Why are the early release days scheduled on Wednesday and not Friday?
Early release days are scheduled on Wednesdays in order to ensure all teachers are available to collaborate and review student performance. By scheduling on Wednesday, we can ensure that all teachers will be present for collaborative planning. Educators that serve as program leaders, sponsors, or extracurricular support are commonly off-campus working with students, groups, or organizations on Thursdays/Fridays.
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Why are there four early release days at the close of each semester?
The final four days of each semester are critical for grading and recording quarter grades and finals. In addition, these days provide additional time for collaboration and adjustment at the conclusion of the fall semester in preparation for the spring semester.
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Why is it important for the fall semester to end before winter break?
Students enrolled in dual credit courses with our local universities must end their semester prior to the winter break to align with the university calendar.
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Why do we not have a planning day prior to the second semester?
In order to provide for the priorities previously mentioned and maintain the 187 staff days and 180 instructional days, an additional student holiday was not possible. In addition, there are two additional early release days in December to support spring planning and semester grade entry.
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Why is there not an “exchange” day built in for staff development completed outside of the school year?
In order to provide for the priorities previously mentioned and maintain the 187 staff days and 180 instructional days, an additional professional development day was not possible.
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What type of support is available for elementary families unable to make arrangements for their children on the early release days?
The Denton ISD Extended School Day (ESD) program is developing optional afternoon learning opportunities for elementary students on early release days. Students do not have to be enrolled in the ESD program to utilize this service. Denton ISD Transportation will run buses at both the early dismissal time and the regular dismissal time for elementary students who wish to remain at school until regular dismissal time.
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How will we make sure the A/B calendar is established so that early release days are not consistently falling on either an A or B day?
Prior to each school year, high school associate principals work with Academic Programs to design the most effective A/B calendar. The early release days will be distributed as evenly as possible between A or B days.
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What stakeholder groups offered feedback prior to the presentation and approval of this calendar?
A committee composed of various campus and division representatives, including but not limited to elementary, middle and high school principals, Academic Programs, Special Education and Curriculum and Instrustruction, drafted the calendar. Prior to approval, the committee presented the calendar to the Education Improvement Council (EIC), Denton Community Council of PTAs, campus principals, Superintendent’s Cabinet and the Board of Trustees. The committee made adjustments as feedback was received.
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Why are there three weeks for testing?
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) sets the testing calendars for the state.
All testing calendars are posted online at TEA’s website. You can view the testing calendars at this link: https://tea.texas.gov/student-assessment/testing/student-assessment-overview/testing-calendars