EPISD Board of Trustees unanimously approves Accelerated Program
By: Jose G. Landa
An Exclusive Eagle Pass Business Journal News Story/Copyright 2013
The Eagle Pass Independent School District (EPISD) Board of Trustees unanimously approved the Accelerated Program for class scheduling for the 2013-2014 school year at its Tuesday, February 26, 2013, Special Meeting held at the EPISD Central Service Board Room.
EPISD Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Samuel Mijares, presented a very thorough power point presentation to the School Board members detailing the advantages and disadvantages to local students, administration, faculty, staff, students, and parents concerning the Accelerated Program for class scheduling. Other EPISD faculty and Department heads also presented their recommendations and questions regarding the Accelerated Program.
The EPISD Curriculum Committee and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Samuel Mijares, visited three high schools currently using the Accelerated Program during the Fall Semester to personally observe how it works and interviewed faculty, students, and administrators on whether they liked it. The research findings were that all three high schools visited were very happy with the Accelerated Program and the academic results significantly increased as a result of utilizing the program. The three high schools visited were San Antonio Jefferson High School, Laredo United High School, and Mission Sharyland High School.
At San Antonio Jefferson High School, the seniors graduation rate increased from 68% to over 90%. All three high schools reported graduation rates over 90%. Students expressed enjoying the Accelerated Program as giving them more in depth instruction on the course subjects due to the longer class periods. Under the Accelerated Program, classes are 80 minutes long instead of 45 minutes long in traditional schools. All three schools reported having more students going to college and improving their academic grades.
The EPISD Board of Trustees heard from all the stakeholders concerning the Accelerated Program and were very pleased with the acceptance of it from all the players. After a discussion, the EPISD School Board unanimously approved the Accelerated Program for implementation during the 2013-2014 school year.
