New School Calendar Approved By District 113 Board of Education.

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — The Township High School District 113 Board of Education authorized the creation of a new school calendar Monday. It will move final exams to before winter break and modify the end of the first semester starting in the 2018-2019 school year, the board announced.

The change was based on work began about ten months ago by the District 113 Calendar Committee.

Formed last May, the calendar committee studied the District school calendar (the start date and end date of school) to assess the extent to which it is meeting the needs of students, staff, and families.

The Committee consisted of district stakeholders from both Deerfield and Highland Park High Schools, as well as representatives from North Shore School District 112, Deerfield Public School District 109, and Bannockburn School District 106.

Last October, surveys were administered to parents/guardians, students, and staff to determine interest and concerns for the school calendar. Upon reviewing the survey data from over 6,000 stakeholder responses and conducting formal research on school calendars, the committee created new calendar designs. These designs were given to stakeholders, and additional surveying was conducted to garner stakeholder feedback.

Data from the Calendar Committee’s work indicated that there was a statistically significant desire among all stakeholder groups to move final exams before winter break, as well as a desire to start school in late August.

Out of the three calendar designs that were provided to stakeholders, the calendar with unbalanced semesters was the most popular option.

The unbalanced semester calendar design was created in order to preserve the traditional school start and end date while also allowing for the administration of final exams before winter break

Data contained within the committee’s efforts indicated stakeholder perceptions that administering final exams before winter break would reduce student stress over winter break, providing students with a true “break” during the holidays.

The District will continue to explore calendar options and will obtain perspectives from DHS and HPHS staff regarding the impact on semester classes, standardized tests, the college application process, and Advanced Placement Exams.

The District’s Assessment Committee, led by DHS Principal Kathryn Anderson, will also work to examine these factors and improve the social/emotional well-being of students. Additionally, District stakeholder groups will continue collaborating and working to resolve issues related to non-instructional, extracurricular impacts concerning the calendar change.

The Board and District believe the unbalanced semester calendar, with finals before winter break, reflects the values and needs that emerged from the feedback gathered and this change can be successfully implemented during the 2018-19 school year.

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