Starting this school year, students attending District U-46’s five high schools will be released almost an hour earlier than normal on the second Wednesday of the month to give teachers additional time to do other job-related work.
Students who take the bus and take part in after school-activities will have to remain on campus until the normal release time, U-46 spokeswoman Tara Burghart said.
“These early release dates will provide high school teachers with additional time for planning, data review and collaboration,” she said.
Collaborative teams will consist of teachers who teach the same course and can use the time to review the new curriculum, design lessons, evaluate students’ work and assess where students need more support, Burghart said.
On early release Wednesdays, students at Bartlett, Elgin, Larkin, South Elgin and Streamwood high schools will be dismissed from class at 1:59 p.m. However, students who rely on bus transportation or participate in after-school activities will be expected to remain at school until the regular dismissal time of 2:55 p.m.
Students who remain on campus will be supervised by staff.
“They can attend a study hall, an open gym or take advantage of other opportunities,” Burghart said. “Potential activities that schools may offer, depending on the site, include ACT prep, peer tutoring and opportunities through partnerships with organizations such as Upward Bound, Boys and Girls Club, Hanover Township and Elgin Community College.”
The early release dates were part of the contract the Elgin Teachers Association negotiated with the school district earlier this year.
U-46 recently posted on social media that the new initiative will enhance the educational environment for high schoolers.
“Research shows that collaboration among teachers is tied to improved student learning outcomes through strengthening of curriculum, instruction and assessment,” Burghart said. “Collaboration also provides opportunities for feedback and growth as teachers learn from each other, and the support among colleagues can improve teacher retention and teacher satisfaction.”
During the 2024-25 school year, students will be off on five teacher institute days and for Labor Day, Columbus Day/Indigenous People’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and President Day. Schools and offices will also be closed on Friday, April 18, for a spring holiday weekend.
For the Thanksgiving holiday, schools willl be closed starting Wednesday, Nov. 27, classes resuming Monday, Dec. 2.
Winter break will start Monday, Dec. 23, with classes resuming Monday, Jan. 6. Spring break will start Monday, March 31, with classes resuming Monday, April 7.
If no snow days are used, the last day of classes for all U-46 schools will be Friday, May 23. High school graduations will be Saturday, May 24.
To view the school calendar, go to u-46.org/calendar.
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
