Frequently Asked Questions

Why is BISD considering this? 

In hopes of retaining our current staff, recruiting highly qualified educators to teach in our community, as well as to improve work/life balance for our employees. 

Why is it important to have an effective teacher? 

Research by John Hattie suggests that having a strong teacher in the classroom has the greatest impact on student achievement. To see the graphic, go to the video or presentation slides on the home page.

Is there a reason we are considering Fridays rather than Mondays? 

In collecting feedback from districts across the state, it has been found that logistics for UIL events, dual credit, and other district activities/partnerships benefit more from flexibility on Fridays rather than Mondays. 

Will teachers have to work every Friday?  

No, teachers will work on select Fridays throughout the year for professional development and professional learning communities, but will be off most Fridays. 

What about non-teaching staff? 

The leader of each department within the district will discuss with their staff and set a work schedule based on what the instructional calendar looks like.

What would be the length of each school day? 

We currently go to school 495 minutes. The new school day will be 501 minutes. 

After BISD moves to a 4-Day Instructional Week, if it does not fit the needs of our community, can we go back to 5-days? 

Yes,  after a one year pilot, BISD saw many significant positive changes and have decided to continue with a second year of a 4-Day Calendar. However, we are still learning and if it is best to convert back to a 5-day Calendar after another year, we still have the option to do so. 

How long will the school year be?  How long will the school day be? 

Click to view the 2025-2026 Academic Calendar.

Will coaching staff have to work Fridays when other employees are off? 

Coaching staff may have to work on a Friday when they are in season.  

How will this affect the 90% rule for student attendance? 

The 90% attendance rule will still be in place proportionate to the number of instructional days for the year.  BISD is a district of innovation and has some flexibility around this. 

Will the same quality and quantity of instruction occur in a 4-Day week? 

Yes, students will still attend the required 75,600 minutes and will follow the same state required standards. 

When will the 4-Day Week go into effect? 

The 4-Day Week will go into effect for the 24-25 Academic Year.

Would 4 day instructional week have an impact on Occupational Therapy (OT)/Physical Therapy (PT) services from contracted personnel? 

No, contracted services can be provided during the 4 day week. Contractors will work within our parameters.

Will students getting speech be seen longer at a time or more days a week?

Students receiving speech services will be provided the same amount of services they are currently receiving.

Can Fridays be used for testing or tutoring for students receiving special education services?

Testing and tutoring will be provided during the 4 day instructional week.

Are there resources for students who have medical needs for Fridays? 

Many families with students with medical needs already have a private duty nurse who helps support them when they are in school and/or at home.  

Will BISD provide meals to students in need on Fridays when students do not have school? 

Yes, BISD will provide meals for students at all campuses and the Boys and Girls Club Teen Center on Fridays. 

What time will lunch be served?
Operating generally from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM, the program offers set meal times. The schedule is flexible and may be adjusted as needed to accommodate the evolving needs of our students.

Can we pick up lunch curbside?
No, similar to our  Summer meals program, students are required to consume their meals on campus. This not only fosters a sense of community but also ensures a supervised and safe dining environment.

How will BISD support childcare on Friday for working households?

Boys and Girls Club will be open on Fridays for childcare.  For other options, please visit the Childcare page on this website.

Will there be a cost for a one-day, drop-in service? If so, how much is the fee?

Yes, for families who choose to utilize the Boys and Girls Club services, a drop-in day fee of $20 will be applicable. Alternatively, parents can opt for an annual fee of $100, providing access to the program for the entire school year.

Will there be activities planned per each age group? (Educational/PE/Outdoor) 

Yes, the Boys & Girls Club does have activities planned for the children each day.

Will Boys & Girls Club students pay for lunch or is it included in tuition?

Breakfast/Snack and Lunch is provided. 

Will moving to a 4-Day week reduce my pay? 

No, all BISD employees would receive the same salary, there would be no reduction in pay, plus the yearly percent raise.

What about for hourly employees? 

Going to this structure, we want to ensure that employees do not lose pay. BISD will adjust pay rates and hours to make sure that employees get the same take home amount in 4 days of work as they would in a normal 5 day work week. 

Will educators be compensated if they work on Friday? 

Any educators completing supplemental duties will be compensated. 

Will the difference of teacher work days affect our pay? Will we get paid more for working 175 days rather than 163?

No, teachers are on a step pay scale. Teacher pay will not change. Teacher’s daily rate may change according to the number of days in the contract, but they will still get the same annual salary according to what pay step they are on.

Will Athletics be negatively impacted? 

No, students will be able to participate in sporting events on all days of the week as they do currently.  Should a game/event be scheduled for a Friday with no instruction (no kids at school), transportation will be provided to ensure students are able to participate in their game/event.

Will BISD provide transportation for students who participate in extracurriculars on Fridays when students do not have school?  

Yes, BISD will provide transportation for all student extracurricular activities that occur on Fridays. 

How will this affect athletics and other extracurricular events that normally take place on Friday? 

Extracurricular activities will continue to be scheduled as normal on Fridays aligned to the UIL calendar. 

Will students still have pep rallies and other spirit activities? 

Yes, students will still participate in spirit activities. 

Will football games still occur on Fridays? 

Yes, football games will still be scheduled for Friday. 

Practice time: When will athletics practice start before or after school? 

We are currently working on the logistics of morning and afternoon practices for extracurricular activities.

Will attendance on Friday games/events be affected by students not being in school on Friday?

Our community is very supportive of our students in all events they are involved in. This should not affect the fans/supporters at these events.

Will students be excused from class early M-Th to practice or will practice be outside of the school day?

Practice will be before or after school depending on the minutes/hours and schedule set by the district. We will not excuse students from their classes to practice early.

Will this reduce the amount of instructional time students receive?

No, we are required by law to have students in school for no less than 75,600 minutes, so we will rework the instructional calendar to accommodate the length of the day to allow us to get the required number of minutes throughout the year.

What will services for special education students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) look like? 

Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) minutes and services will be met. 

Will the amount of homework decrease for students? 

Homework should not increase compared to what is currently being assigned. 

Will this change allow the secondary campuses to go back to an 8 period day? 

Yes, the middle school and the high school will follow an 8 period day schedule. Currently, secondary has 48 minute classes, next year they will be 57 minutes. 

What time would students who ride the bus get home in the evenings? 

Transportation routes are currently being examined to reduce the time students are away from home. 

What is the cost savings in fuel/maintenance?

We do not currently have that information. We would have to determine the number of routes needed for students in the 24-25 school year. This would be determined by the number of students who need transportation to and from school as well as those needing transportation on Fridays. We will collect this data as we move forward.