What does a “balanced calendar” entail?
In a balanced calendar, the instructional year would be organized in a format that provides approximately 9 weeks of instruction with a 2 week intersession between instructional quarters.
During each 2 week intersession, the district will be able to offer academic interventions for the students who need it most.
Typical extended breaks for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter will remain in the calendar.
What are the benefits of a balanced calendar as opposed to a traditional school calendar?
Decreases the amount of time students spend away from teachers & school personnel during the summer from 11 weeks to 7 weeks.
Instruction – 41 to 43 day periods of instruction are a much more manageable block of time to effectively plan instruction for and then assess students. It is a more manageable period for teachers and students, and academic adjustments & interventions can be made easier and more efficiently.
Intersession - the 2 week breaks that occur after each 41-43 day instructional period can be used as an opportunity to help students who struggled with the material just covered – usually 3 day intervention. This is a nice change from traditional summer school, where deficits are usually addressed in many cases long after those deficits are acquired. The intervention and extra help can be immediate for those kids.
Systems who have adopted a balanced calendar have seen improved teacher and student attendance. A consistent cycle of breaks
throughout the year would enable some rest and refocusing to occur as we progress through the school year.
How many days are there in each grading period?
1st 9 Weeks - August 12 – October 8 – 41 days
2nd 9 Weeks - October 25 – January 14 – 43 days
3rd 9 Weeks - January 18 – April 1 – 43 days
4th 9 Weeks - April 4 – June 14 – 41 days
Will childcare be available during the intersession?
We are working with childcare providers and early learning centers to ensure that childcare is provided during these times.
What about high school graduations?
High school graduations will be scheduled in June under a balanced calendar.
How will this calendar affect required state assessments?
The WPSB administration will work closely with the LDOE to ensure instructional and assessment calendars are aligned.
How will a balanced calendar affect athletics?
The athletic seasons will take place at the same time as they currently do. For high school, LHSAA will still serve as the governing body for high school sports. For junior high, Junior High programs each play in leagues that usually follow similar guidelines to those of the LHSAA. The Junior High leagues, however, do have their own governing body in which they can discuss and implement changes to their seasons as they see fit.
When will the summer break be for students?
In the sample above, the last day for students would be June 14, 2022. The summer break would be from June 15, 2022 until the beginning of August (the exact date for the start of the 2022 school year will be set at a later time).
Are there other school systems following a balanced calendar?
Yes, Red River Parish implemented a balanced calendar for the 2020-2021 school year and again adopted a balanced calendar for the 21-22 school year. Additional parishes are proposing a balanced calendar for the 2021-2022 school year. Data shows that schools in 46 states have adopted a balanced calendar format of which approximately 3 million K-12 students attend.
Will virtual be an option for the intersession period?
Yes