Big Change Coming For Middle and High School Students in RPS 205
When I was a Senior in high school I remember having a later start time than the underclassmen in the school, but it was a consistent later start time, not just a late start one day a week. Are you confused yet? You're not alone.
According to the Rockford Register Star, Rockford Public Schools District 205 just announced that starting this school year, Middle and High School students in the district will start school 30 minutes later on Thursdays each week.
What is the point of this you ask?
The RRStar reports;
The reason for the change is to give middle and high school teachers uninterrupted time to collaborate and pore over student achievement data.
Right now, most teachers have planning periods and lunches, but those times are staggered throughout the day. Late start Thursdays will give teachers and administrators a set time every week when they can all be together to discuss goals and strategies.
Thirty minutes sure doesn't seem like a lot of time to get stuff done, but apparently there is a lot of research that shows changes such as this are good for kids and improving their learning environment.
The logistics of Late Start Thursdays will work like this:
- Buses will come 30 minutes later in the morning
- Breakfast will be served and classes will start 30 minutes later
- Dismissal times WILL NOT BE CHANGING, so on Thursdays middle and high school students will be losing 30 minutes worth of class time.
If you have questions or concerns about these new late start Thursdays, visit rps205.com.