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Board reviews instructional-time model; staff seek flexibility for flipped and hybrid learning
Summary
District staff reviewed an instructional time model enabled by a 2021 state law that would allow the board to count flipped learning and hybrid classes for instructional minutes in future calendars; board members clarified it would not change this year's calendar and any calendar change requires future board approval.
District staff presented the Governing Board with a review of the district’s instructional time model and a request to allow flexibility in how certain minutes are counted for future calendars.
Dr. Jensen reviewed a 2021 state law (House Bill 2862) that granted districts flexibility in how they count instructional minutes when the governing board approves the model. The proposed model would continue to count minutes when students are physically on campus while allowing the district to count some alternative instructional arrangements in future calendars, such as the Cactus Shadows High School ACT testing day model (where non‑testing students are "flipped"), hybrid/virtual options for EVIT students who take one CCUSD online class instead of early-morning or late-night travel, and flipped learning or project-based student activities on selected staff-development days without extending certified contracts.
Dr. Jensen said the change would not name dates but would give the calendar committee flexibility when planning future calendars. "This is just being overly explicit that we're allowed to do it if that's what a calendar committee approves," Dr. Jensen said. President Greer clarified that this review did not affect the current year's calendar; any calendar that applies these flexibilities would come to the board for approval.
Board members asked for examples of how a flipped staff-development day would work. Dr. Jensen described scenarios such as assigning students a project or community service to complete on a Friday while teachers remain on campus for a full day of professional learning; students would report completion through Google Classroom or similar systems and the district would record attendance accordingly.
No formal vote was taken. The presentation was informational; staff said any calendar changes using the flexibility would require the calendar committee's recommendation and the board’s approval.
