TOPIC 2:
How will District 58's new professional learning model affect the student schedule?
District 58’s 2019-2020 school calendar includes a 2 p.m. early dismissal on Mondays for students in grades K-8 to provide teachers with 1.5 hours of weekly professional learning time. To better inform parents about District 58’s new professional learning model, we are preparing a series of FAQ sheets . This sheet will focus on the 2019-20 student schedule. Please continue reading to learn more !
What is District 58's new professional learning model?
Next school year, District 58 will provide certified teachers with 1.5 hours of weekly professional development time . This dedicated time will help teachers implement new curriculum resources, improve their instructional practice, and better provide students with high-quality learning experiences. We are pleased to offer our teachers this new opportunity!
Why is this important to my child's education?
There are many answers to this question, and we are focusing on one specific reason with each FAQ sheet . Beyond the need for new curricular resources, the Illinois Learning Standards include new and specific instructional strategies and approaches that will provide optimal student learning experiences. Our new professional learning model provides our teachers with the time to fully explore, implement and reflect upon these pedagogical shifts that are critical to our students’ long-term success.
How will this professional learning model affect the school schedule?
Next school year, District 58 will initiate a weekly early release schedule. Every Monday, all schools will dismiss students in kindergarten through eighth grade at 2 p.m. When a Monday holiday occurs, there will be no early dismissal for the week.

To help compensate for this reallocation of Monday afternoon instructional time, we removed three non-attendance dates (two half days and one full day) from the 2019-20 calendar. We also adjusted the student attendance hours (see below) and expect to reduce the amount of times teachers are attending meetings — and using substitute teachers — during the school day. 

With these changes, the overall impact on instructional minutes yields a net increase for students in our elementary schools. At our middle schools, the proposed weekly schedule for 2019-20 accomplishes a nearly negligible difference in overall instructional time. A committee of teachers and administrators will continue to review the middle school schedule over the course of the next year to ensure maximum student learning opportunities are realized.
What will District 58's school hours be for 2019-20?
Preschool attendance will be 8:50-11:30 a.m. (morning session) and 12:30-3:10 p.m. (afternoon session), Monday through Friday.

Morning Kindergarten attendance will be 8:15-11:20 a.m., Monday through Friday.

Grade 1-6 and Kindergarten with OKEEP attendance will be 8:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays and 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays through Fridays.

Grade 7-8 attendance will be 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays and 8:30 a.m. to 3:17 p.m. on Tuesdays through Fridays. Early Bird classes (band, choir and orchestra) will take place from 7:45-8:25 a.m. on Mondays through Fridays.
How can I learn more about this new professional learning model?
Look for additional information to arrive via messages like this one! Future communications will provide further detail on the research behind this model, the specific learning opportunities for our staff, and the ways we intend to support our community through this transition . District 58 is excited to provide our teachers with this new opportunity to improve their instructional practice for the direct benefit of our District 58 students! We will post and regularly update this information on our Professional Learning webpage .
District 58's new professional learning model was conceived through the
District 58 Strategic Plan. Learn more about the Strategic Plan at www.dg58.org/vision58 .