Document Type
Report
Publication Date
3-8-2023
Series Title
Arkansas Education Report
Series Number
Volume 20 Issue 1
Keywords
Calendar selection, modified school structure, non-traditional calendars, Act 688
Abstract
Recent legislation has allowed Arkansas school districts increased flexibility to adopt a non-traditional calendar. Act 688 introduced four calendar options for districts: a traditional calendar, a four day calendar, a year-round calendar, and an alternate calendar based on the number of instructional hours.
During the 2022-23 school year, 33 school districts throughout the state adopted new calendars. The motivations behind why districts adopted new calendars were unclear. This report aims to identify the rationale behind why these districts moved away from the traditional calendar.
This report uses data gathered from interviews with twenty-three superintendents in districts that selected non-traditional calendars to identify the motivation for the change as well as the successes and challenges of adopting a new calendar. Arkansas's district leaders will select calendars in the spring for the 2023-24 school year. The findings from this study will provide leaders and stakeholders with helpful information and items to consider.
Citation
Barnes, K., & McKenzie, S. C. (2023). We Wanted to do Something Innovative: Exploring Motivations of Arkansas Districts Adopting Four-Day School Weeks or Year-Round Calendars. Arkansas Education Reports. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/oepreport/96
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