Activities-+WH


 * Flexible Friday Summary **
 * __Where did the idea for Flexible Fridays begin?__**

The idea began with **Principal Don Wentroth** at **Putnam City High School**, who was looking for a way to get his students to give their best effort. A former classroom teacher, Wentroth knew that the biggest battle facing classroom teachers wasn’t whether students had the ability to do what teachers were asking them to do, but whether students cared enough to do so. Wentroth knew that an incentive that would encourage students to give their best effort would go a long way in helping teachers and students to reach their goals.


 * __How did this idea reach DCPS?__**

Several teachers were sent to Professional Learning Communities (PLC) training. At the training, the teachers received a book that mentioned what Principal Wentroth and his teachers were doing. The following is the excerpt from that book.

“Putnam City High School created a “flexible Friday” schedule that allowed students who were passing all of their classes an early release on Friday afternoons, while students who were failing a course, who were in danger of failing, who had not completed all of their work, or who needed to make up work due to an absence remained on campus for intensive tutoring, advising, and to complete their work. When the state department of education advised school officials they were violating state policy because early dismissal did not provide the number of minutes required of the school day, Principal Don Wentroth, teachers, and students took their case to the state legislature. After hearing students explain the benefits of the school’s system of intervention and the positive impact it was having on their achievement, the Oklahoma House and Senate passed legislation allowing Putnam City to continue its practice. The percentage of Putnam City students failing a course dropped from 23% to 6%, and the percentage of students demonstrating proficiency on the state assessment in algebra jumped 6% to 83% in one year.” Excerpt from //Revisiting Professional Learning Communities at Work// (2008)


 * __What are some reasons for implementing this program?__**


 * Flexible Fridays accomplishes the following five goals: **

1. Provides students with an incentive to give their best effort, because students value time- time out of school, time to spend with their friends, time to get their assignments finished, and so on; Flexible Fridays allow students who meet a list of requirements the chance to earn privileges/rewards on Flex Fridays and early release from school on eight specific dates as long as students are not failing any of their eight courses: September 17, October 29, November 29, December 10, January 28, February 25, March 25, and May 6. 2. Provides time within the school day for remediating students who need extra time and support from their teachers or peer tutors to learn things we are asking them to learn. We cannot mandate attendance at Extended School Services held before or after school. 3. Provides an opportunity for students who have been absent because of sickness or suspension to make up missed assignments, tests, science labs. Otherwise, they would have to make up these things during regular class time; therefore, they would only get further behind. 4. Eliminates many interruptions within the traditional school day, because most activities such as pep rallies, guest speakers, club meetings, AP Review sessions, ACT Prep Classes, physical fitness activities, visits with counselors, etc. take place on Fridays after students have been dismissed from class.


 * __What are some other things I need to know?__**

· The first year of implementation, it is the intent of the two high schools to focus on students failing their classes. Only students with Fs will not be allowed to leave for early dismissal. The second year of implementation, it is the intent to also retain students with Ds in their classes.

· Students meet with an advisor on Thursdays to determine whether or not they are eligible for privileges and rewards or whether they are required to attend mandatory tutoring on Flex Fridays, to determine which classes/teachers they must visit during required tutoring, and to obtain the sign in/sign out sheet they must have signed by the teachers of the classes they visit during tutoring time. Students will also meet in Cap group on Thursdays prior to Early Release dates.

· Parents who attempt to check their student out of school during required tutoring will be asked to sign a document stating they have knowledge of their son or daughter’s poor classroom performance and failing grades. In addition, they also state they understand the importance of this time and its effect on their child’s ability to pass their classes, and they are releasing the school and the school board of the responsibility of providing the extra support their child needs to pass the class.

· During the a.m. meetings for teachers, teachers can meet with their departments, their collaborating teachers, their grade level teachers, academy meetings, house meetings, and so on. Teachers have lives outside of school and this program will allow teachers time within the school day for many of the important discussions needed within these departments and committees to take place. Attendance at these meetings will not be optional; all teachers will be required to meet.

· All classes will be shortened on Fridays, so as to allow all teachers the ability to meet with all of their classes. Flexible Fridays or Early Release Early will not keep any students from attending all their classes.