Texas public schools’ participation in the Optional Flexible Year Program (OFYP) has dropped from 217 participating districts in school year 2010-11 to only 60 in SY 2014-15, which equals a 72 percent drop in participation levels. Of the 60 local education agencies approved to participate in OFYP in school year 2014-15, 58 of the entities are school districts and 2 are open-enrollment charter schools. Districts that may be assigned lowered academic accountability ratings for SY 2015-16 or in subsequent school years, or that foresee the need to target selected academic performance issues for other reasons, should consider the opportunities offered by OFYP to improve academic performance.
The flexible year program was enacted in Education Code Section 29.0821 by the 78th Legislature in 2003 with the intent of allowing districts to modify their instructional calendars for up to ten instructional days to increase the attention and focus on selected subpopulation(s) of students to help ensure they will pass the state assessment test and to help ensure they will be promoted to the next grade level. Under a modified instructional calendar, students requiring additional attention or services will follow a 180-day instructional calendar and other students may, for example, follow a 170-day calendar.
One school district explained the incentive to students to excel academically during the school year under an 8-day modification to the instructional calendar as follows:
“Parents should keep in mind that the carrot of 8 days off at the end of the year can assist them in motivating and encouraging their high school students to attend all classes and fully apply themselves during the regular school year. Regular attendance and study will increase students’ knowledge as they are engaged consistently. It is a win-win-win: a win for students, a win for parents and a win for the district with higher average daily attendance and thus increased funds to spend on students.”
On March 12, 2015, the Texas Education Agency informed districts that may be interested to participating in OFYP for school year 2015-16 that they will be required to submit a packet of items, under TEA’s review and approval process. Please note that districts approved to participate in SY 2014-15 or in prior school years must reapply to participate in school year 2015-16.
For more information on participating in OFYP, read the March 12, 2015, TEA TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED letter on this topic at http://tea.texas.gov/interiorpage_wide.aspx?id=25769820581
Also the rules, application, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the OFYP can be found at http://tea.texas.gov/Finance_and_Grants/State_Funding/Additional_Finance_Resources/Optional__Flexible_Year_Program/.