EPISD considering Accelerated Program for 2013-2014 school year
By: Ricardo E. Calderon
Eagle Pass Business Journal©
The Eagle Pass Independent School District (EPISD) Board of Trustees heard a presentation from EPISD Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Samuel Mijares, recommending that the EPISD change to an Accelerated Program for the 2013-2014 school year to maximize the efficiency and success of class room curriculum and instruction and increase the graduation rate of EPISD high school students at their Tuesday, February 12, 2013, regular board meeting, voting to table the subject for a workshop and formal action at a February 26th meeting.
Mijares advised the EPISD Board of Trustees that after a long and thorough research by his office and the EPISD Curriculum and Instruction Committee, comprised by EPISD administrators and teachers, it is in the best interests of students and the EPISD to change to an Accerlerated Program schedule than the current Traditional Program being utilized. Mijares and the EPISD Curriculum and Instruction Committee personally visited and interviewed three Texas public high schools currently using the Accelerated Program and learned that all three high schools have increased their graduation rates and significantly improved the students performance in their academic studies. The three high schools visited were Laredo United, Mission Sharyland, and San Antonio Jefferson.
Accelerated Program is a change in the daily schedule structure. The curriculum is presented with a different time format than the current Traditional Program currently used, which is less stressful and more productive for students. The Accelerated Program gives students the opportunity to learn subject matters in greater depth and detail. The Accelerated Program daily schedule consists of five (5) eighty (80) minute classes instead of the current Traditional Program’s
nine (9) forty-five (45) minutes classes. Students will have five (5) minutes between classes. Students can earn ten (10) credits per year for a total of forty (40) credits over their four years in high school. Students will be able to participate in athletics and band during their four years of high school, as well as do both if they wish.
There are many advantages under the Accelerated Program. With the stricter state and federal testing standards upcoming under the STAARS and No Child Left Behind programs, students will receive longer in-depth and detailed instruction on each subject as each class period will be 80 minutes instead of the current 45 minutes. Students will complete a subject matter in one semester instead of two semesters. Students will be tested at the end of each semester and those who fail will receive immediate intervention by retaking the course the following semester instead of waiting until the next school year. Those students who pass will take new courses towards their high school graduation plan. Teachers will have more time to teach and less students to teach. For example, currently Teachers teach seven (7) classes with a maximum class size of 30 students per class totaling 210 students per day compared to the Accelerated Program’s four (4) classes with a maximum of 30 students per class totaling 120 students per day.
Students are going to be required to pass End of Course (EOC) exams in Math, English and Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies to graduate. All three high schools visited demonstrated higher academic performance from students and increased their graduation rates. There are also increased efficiencies in curriculum and instruction as students attitude and motivation in their personal success have demonstrably increased at all three high schools interviewed.
The EPISD School Board expressed needing more input from local teachers, who are in the trenches teaching students, and time to carefully evaluate the changes that the Accelerated Program will have on local students, teachers, staff, parents, and EPISD. Board Trustee Claudio Heredia requested needing more time to properly evaluate Accelerated Program and a workshop to discuss any questions he or the public may have, including teachers. Heredia requested that every school should have two or three teachers representing it to evaluate and comment their opinions on how Accelerated Program is going to positively or negatively affect them and their students. Board Trustee Lupita Fuentes expressed her concerns regarding the lack of communication from the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Samuel Mijares, concerning the major changes which the Accelerted Program may represent to the EPISD. Fuentes also requested more time to evaluate the program and its effects.
Mijares advised the EPISD School Board that all three high schools visited and interviewed had expressed their total satisfaction and approval of the Accelerated Program. Mijares advised the School Board that if the EPISD is to implement the Accelerated Program for next school year, a decision by the School Board is imminent in order to change the pre-registration of students for next year course selection, revise the curriculum and instruction, and educate and train the teachers, administrators, students, and parents concerning the Accelerated Program. Mijares advised the School Board that all great and successful school districts challenge their students and faculty to be great. He believes the Accelerated Program will challenge and transform the EPISD to become an outstanding and exemplary school district.
The EPISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to table any action until a February 26th workshop
