School Wide Lesson #1

Part 1: Why is Tutorial Changing?

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Why is Tutorial Changing?

Tutorial, as it was last year, won’t count towards Instructional Minutes this year.

If we keep Tutorial, as it was last year, we would need to extend the school day by at least 30 minutes or extend the school year.

Let me explain...

Minimum # of Instructional Days

180

180 is the minimum number of required instructional days

Minimum # of Instructional Minutes per Year

64,800

64,800 is the minimum number of required instructional minutes

Minimum # of Instructional Minutes per Day

240

An average of 240 minutes per day is the minimum number of required instructional minutes

Understanding the Instructional Minutes

43,200 < 64,800

240 instructional minutes per day multiplied by 180 school days only equals 43,200 instructional minutes

Understanding the Instructional Minutes

360

64,800 instructional minutes divided by 180 school days is equal to an average of 360 instructional minutes per day.

Understanding the Instructional Minutes

415

RED days with a 30 minute tutorial counts as 415 instructional minutes.

Understanding the Instructional Minutes

320

BLUE days with a 30 minute tutorial counts as 320 instructional minutes.

Understanding the Instructional Minutes

<500

Adding RED days and BLUE days with other schedules (Finals, Assembly, Testing, etc.) yields a surplus of less than 500 instructional minutes for the entire year.

Understanding the Instructional Minutes

500 < 720

We should have at least a surplus of 720 instructional minutes.

Understanding the Instructional Minutes

500 < 720

If we had to close school early due to a water or gas main break, loss of electricity, a large earthquake, etc., we can tap into this surplus

What Does Not Count Towards Instructional Minutes?

• Class periods that do not qualify as valid course offerings or that have barriers to attendance
• Passing time in excess of 10 minutes
• Passing time between different program settings

What Does Not Count Towards Instructional Minutes?

• Lunch and Breaks
• Passing time at the beginning or end of the day--must be between two classes
• Tutorial time at the beginning or end of the day

What Does Count Towards Instructional Minutes?

• Educational time under immediate supervision of a certificated teacher.
• Required certificated employee supervised attendance time in study halls or homerooms.

What Does Count Towards Instructional Minutes?

• Passing time between all periods during the day:
• Can’t exceed ten minutes
• Passing time from class to lunch/ break can’t be counted. Passing time from lunch/break to class can be counted

What Does Count Towards Instructional Minutes?

• Assembly time, if instructional time required and under immediate supervision of a certificated teacher.
• Tutorial time in the middle of the day with closed campus while under the supervision of a certificated teacher.

What Does Count Towards Instructional Minutes?

“Tutorial time in the middle of the day with closed campus while under the supervision of a certificated teacher.”

And therein lies the difference between last year’s tutorial and this year’s tutorial.

Last Year’s Tutorial vs. This Year’s Tutorial

Last Year

• Technically was a long “break”
• Not all students were under “immediate supervision of a certificated teacher.”
• Not engaged in educational activities required of those pupils and under the immediate supervision and control of a certificated teacher.

This Year

• Students required to sign-in and sign-out to maintain attendance records.
• Students required to be under “immediate supervision of a certificated teacher.”
• Students expected to be engaged in educational activities

Why is Tutorial Changing?

+150 minutes/ week

An auditor would find that Tutorial (as it was last year) does not qualify for instructional minutes. At least 150 minutes per week would need to be added to the schedule.

Why is Tutorial Changing?

+5400 minutes/ year

150 minutes per week multiplied by 36 weeks is 5400 additional instructional minutes.

Why is Tutorial Changing?

• 15 school days?!

The school year could be extended by 15 days, and/or school days would have to be at least 30 minutes longer to make up the difference.

Why is Tutorial Changing?

In addition, the District would lose money to pay for the extra days for staff and/or the state would claim an apportionment of district funding.

How is Tutorial This Year?

• Tutorial is part of your 1st or 2nd period class, though we created the schedule to be specific with when your 1st or 2nd period subject should end and when the time reserved for Tutorial should begin.
• Tutorial counts towards our instructional minutes.
• Without Tutorial, classes would have to be longer.

How is Tutorial This Year?

• Tutorial is every day after 1st and 2nd period

This is 150 minutes a week to do something...

Advisory/Tutorial: Opportunities

• “ACADEMICALLY RELEVANT”
• “SOCIAL-EMOTIONALLY APPROPRIATE”

Tutorial: Academically Relevant Examples

• Additional help from your teacher
• Makeup a test or quiz
• Work on a project with your partner/team
• Attend a workshop presented by a teacher or counselor
• Work on your homework
• What other examples can you think of?

Tutorial: Social-Emotionally Appropriate Examples

• Mindfulness activities as a class or group
• Meditation
• Dyads/Triads/Quads
• Breathing activities
• What other examples can you think of?

Tutorial Opportunities

The key is that you are doing something

“ACADEMICALLY RELEVANT”

or

“SOCIAL-EMOTIONALLY APPROPRIATE”

Tutorial Expectations

Students are expected to:

• Be under the direct supervision of a certificated staff member
• If leaving 1st or 2nd period, sign-out and then sign-in where you arrive.
• Be academically responsible for your educational needs and make the most of the tutorial time doing something “Academically Relevant” or “Social-Emotionally Appropriate.”

Frequently Asked Questions….

• Can a student go to multiple classes during the tutorial?
• Yes. The student needs to sign-out of the 1st or 2nd period class, sign-in at the next room, sign-out before leaving to a third room, sign-in at the third room, and so on.
• When will food be available?
• The Saratoga Kitchen will be available to serve students after Tutorial during the 10 minute passing period before 3rd or 4th period.
• What happens if I ditch?
• Students caught “ditching” tutorial will be assigned a detention. Students found off campus during tutorial will be assigned a Saturday School.
• What areas are available during Tutorial?
• The Library and Student Center are available. Teachers who are hosting a Tutorial after 1st or 2nd period. If we have supervision, we will open the cafeteria room, but food will not be available.

Frequently Asked Questions….

• What areas are not available during Tutorial?
• The Quad, the Athletic fields (unless supervised by a PE teacher), the Parking Lots, and areas not directly supervised by a certificated staff member.
• What should I be doing during Tutorial?
• You should be doing something “Academically Relevant” or “Social-Emotionally Appropriate” during tutorial.
• Do I need my ID card?
• Yes. Every student needs an ID card. Students can take a picture of their ID card on their mobile device if they are worried about losing their ID card. It is the student’s responsibility to sign-out and sign-in whichever room they are during tutorial.

Frequently Asked Questions….

• How might Tutorial be improved in the future?
• We are investigating ways to improve the sign-out and sign-in process for greater efficiency and ease
• We are investigating ways for students to make appointments to ensure the teacher and/or staff member are available during tutorial
• We are working to make the Quad an available learning space during tutorial
• We are exploring ways to make food available during Tutorial (and throughout the day)
• Certificated staff members are encouraged to use the Tutorial as a means for Intervention or Enhancement Opportunities
• A District bell schedule committee will be convened to analyze the start/end of the school day, instructional minutes, length of periods, tutorial placement, breaks/lunch, etc.

Discussion: Acknowledging the Change as a Group

• Question #1: For some of our students and staff, there will be a sense of loss. As a group, brainstorm a list of what you feel you lose under the new tutorial expectations.
• Question #2: As a group, brainstorm a list of how you will use Tutorial. Do they meet the criteria of “Academically Relevant” and/or “Social-Emotionally Appropriate”?
• Question #3: Besides the Frequently Asked Questions already presented, what other questions do you have about Tutorial?
• We will address some of these questions at tomorrow’s SWL #2: Embracing the Changes to Tutorial

Your class response can be submitted by using the SWL #1: Why the Changes to Tutorial Google form.

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Discussion: Acknowledging the Change Individually

• If you have additional questions, requests, or needs, please take a moment to respond to SWL #1: Additional Questions, Request, or Needs

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Tomorrow’s School Wide Lesson

• Responding to the new FAQ’s
• The Nuts and Bolts of Sign-in and Sign-Out
• Owning Tutorial: Make It Work for You