Embedded Files
George West Independent School District
Modified Instructional Calendar
Frequently Asked Questions
Student Related Questions
Why does GWISD want to do a 4 Day Instructional Week Pilot?
GWISD students deserve quality teachers.
The teacher shortage in Texas is impacting districts profoundly. GWISD is at a 20% turnover rate. We cannot sustain our excellent practices with this rate.
Research states that a quality teacher is the #1 factor in student achievement.
We want to recruit and retain the quality teachers we have.
George West ISD students deserve the best teachers we have to offer.
George West ISD is an “A” Rated District and we want to keep it that way.
Increase teacher morale by giving them more time to prepare, plan and provide better working conditions.
Teachers are under a tremendous amount of stress and do not have enough hours in the day to do their jobs.
Reduction in student and staff absences throughout the year and increase school district funding.
How would a 4-day week benefit the school and staff?
Research shows that teachers matter more to student achievement than any other aspect of schooling. GWISD needs to retain and recruit teachers.
Districts currently implementing a 4 Day Instructional Week are recruiting more teachers. 5 Day Districts are losing teachers to 4 Day Districts.
Currently, Fridays are a low attendance day for students and staff. This calendar would reduce substitute costs and increase funding through higher attendance rates in our schools.
A 4 Day Instructional Week would improve teachers’ working conditions in GWISD.
Students in extracurricular activities would lose less instructional time. The fifth day would be still be available for athletics and other UIL activities.
A 4 Day Instructional Calendar would actually provide more instructional time.
4-day week instructional minutes 77,220 (156 days @ 495 daily minutes)
5-day week instructional minutes 76,890
How does a 4-day school week benefit students?
Students in extracurricular activities won’t miss so much instructional time, especially on Fridays.
Instruction will focused during 4 Day Week.
Some of our students work to help support their families or to earn extra money for necessities and get work experience. They would be able work on Fridays.
Student attendance improvement
Families enjoy more time together on Fridays
Students are ready for school on Mondays
How early does my child have to report to school and how late does he have to stay?
Students would report only 5 minutes earlier and stay 30 minutes later in the school day on Monday through Thursday. 7:55 am to 4:00 PM
I am concerned about students who live at the Lake. How long will this make their day?
Students on Routes 7, 8 and 9 are picked up at approximately 6:30 am. There will not be a major change to their morning pick up time.
Afternoon activities are available through ACE here in the District. Parents are utilizing these services afterschool until they are out from work. Students are involved in engaging activities such as homework assistance and enrichment such as arts and crafts, outside play, and music.
Will students be out of school every Friday of the school year? Will teachers work on Fridays?
Students will be off only on 15 Fridays of the school year. Students will attend school on 15 Fridays in the 2023-2024 school year. In the month of April and May, before the STAAR tests, students will attend on some Fridays for more intervention.
Teachers will be off only on 15 Fridays and 2 Mondays; however, some Fridays will be used as staff development and teacher workdays.
Most 4 Day Districts are taking up to 38 Days school days out of the calendar. GWISD is only proposing 23 days out of the calendar.
General Questions
Is the District doing this to save money? No
The 4 Day Instructional Week is not a cost saving initiative. It is a teacher recruitment and retention strategy.
School districts currently implementing the 4 Day Instructional Week are reporting that it is a cost neutral initiative.
Some school savings might occur on fuel or substitute costs.
Will employees’ pay be impacted by the 4 Day Instructional Week?
No, employee pay will not be impacted.
What will I do with my children on Fridays if I have to work?
ACE Program will be available on Fridays from 8-12 noon.
Boys’ and Girls’ Club will be available on Fridays from 12 noon to 6 pm.
Intervention and enrichment activities will be available for students.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Snacks will also be provided.
Does the ACE program end in a year?
No, the ACE Program is a grant that will continue for 3 more years. The GWISD has the option for applying for this grant for another cycle.
Does the 4 Day Instructional Week impact my child’s daily schedule?
Your child’s schedule would be minimally impacted; however, a few extra minutes are available during the day for teacher to provide extra intervention if needed. Students would report 5 minutes earlier and stay 30 minutes later in the afternoon.
Will the students be able to maintain their attention towards the end of the day?
GWISD teachers are very creative and effective. They have strategies they use in the classroom to keep students motivated and alert.
Recess is used at Primary and Elementary Schools. This period of time is used by schools to allow students to get fresh air and move around as needed. It provides a balance to the workday.
Jr. High and High School schedules are broken up into segments called instructional periods where students walk to classes during passing periods.
Would this change make the school year longer and summer shorter?
No. Students would still report in August and the school year will end in May.
The projected school start date would be Aug. 10, 2023 and the last day of instruction would be May 29, 2024.
My child is in athletics and other UIL activities. How will this impact his/her schedule?
There will be no impact on athletic/UIL schedules.
Monday through Thursday, students will have a normal schedule.
On Fridays, students will participate in athletic activities as directed by their coaches.
Won’t this impact student achievement?
Districts implementing the 4 Day Instructional Week are reporting minimal fluctuations in student achievement. 1 or 2 percentage points increase and decrease.
Most school districts are maintaining their Accountability ratings.
School districts that have implemented the 4 Day School Week in Texas for 2 or 3 years are actually increasing their achievement. (See Powerpoint)
Won’t this impact students in special education?
Students in ALL programs will receive 77,115 minutes of instruction, which is more instruction than we are providing in 2022-23.
Instructional minutes as noted in individualized educational plans will still be provided during the school week.
Friday activities will be available for students in special education and in the regular educational program.
My child requires HB 4545 extra tutorial hours due to STAAR results. When will he/she get those tutorial hours?
Students requiring HB 4545 tutorials will receive those hours during the school day as they do currently.
Summer school and JumpStart will still be available for interventions.
Teacher and Employee Related Questions
My child rides the bus. How will the bus schedule change?
Buses will generally pick students up 5 minutes earlier than usual. Students will be dropped off 30 minutes later after school. For example: If your child is usually picked up at 7:00 am, he will be picked up at 6:55 am with the new schedule. If your child currently is dropped off at 4:00 pm, he will now be dropped off at approximately 4:30 pm.
Will teachers in a tested subject have less time to cover needed materials? It appears the proposed calendar will only provide 4-6 minutes of additional instructional time.
Instructional time for all courses will not decrease. It will actually increase. Scheduling is a principal and teachers’ prerogative. This team can collaborate and design an effective master schedule that can fit their needs. The modified calendar does not reduce instructional time.
Will the Modified Instructional Calendar change the way I plan as a teacher?
Yes, teachers will see a change in planning units of study and daily lessons as they review the year at a glance (YAG). As TEKS are reviewed in each subject and grade level, teachers will make instructional decisions on priority TEKS and time allowed for each TEK. This is an instructional activity that will be discussed with principals and the administration.
Our society is continuing to ask less of people and promote apathy. This move only reinforces these things and pushes us further down a slippery slope. What's next? When will we stop? We cannot continue to lower standards and expect to not have negative consequences.
The Modified Instructional Calendar week is a rethinking of the school day and week, it does not “ask less” or “promote apathy” of employees or students. Instructional minute requirements have not been relaxed; in fact, instructional minutes would actually increase with the proposed calendar. Learning and enrichment activities will still be available on Fridays though the ACE Program.
Will the 4 Day Instructional Week contribute to student involvement in criminal activity on Friday?
GWISD will have activities that students can participate in on Fridays. ACE Program and Boys’ and Girls’ Club will have activities going on in the morning and afternoon.
GWISD will continue to implement strategies to address truancy in the district. Through increased support from local courts and our Parent Engagement Liaison, the District will continue to address attendance issues.
Will athletes only be practicing/participating in sports 4 days a week? If so, do we really think athletes will perform better with less practice? Should students be given fewer opportunities to succeed than athletes? Teachers fewer than coaches?
Athletes will participate in athletic events and practice Monday through Friday and weekends just like they do now. Coaches will have more time with athletes on Fridays if they so choose. The Modified Instructional Calendar does not impact athletics, UIL or any other extracurricular activity.
Will we still have campus security on Fridays when ACE students are here? I'm concerned that those students may be vulnerable to an attack if we don't continue services.
George West ISD has entered a partnership with the City of George West for police services. The agreement states that police will provide security for the school district and the city with the majority of the time spent on campuses. This will include Fridays when students and staff are present on campus.
Will pep rallies cease to exist with the Modified calendar?
No, pep rallies will not cease to exist. Pep rallies will still be planned for home football games under the direction of the high school staff.
Can Fridays be used to help students make up attendance hours?
Yes, depending on campus attendance committees’ decisions, schools can have staff work with students on making up attendance and school work on Fridays.
The GWISD Board of Trustees took action on March 22, 2023 and adopted the Modified Instructional Calendar. The newly adopted calendar has been
posted on this website and emailed to parents.
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