It is with nothing but joy and excitement that we share with our broader Indi-ED community that we are officially moving to a 4 day a week, full time status next year for ALL students and teachers!
This does NOT come without much consideration, research, piloting, surveying, collaboration, and consensus.
For those who initially gasped, here is some of the background.
We have been considering this for quite some time. If you take a few moments to take a look at how education works around the world and even in the US, attending a building 5 days a week just for the sake of it is not mandatory and does not guarantee true learning or enjoyment.
Philosophically, a part time option is something that we’ve always offered because we know the value of experiences, traveling, spending time with loved ones, fostering relationships, and enjoying your days. Those are always things that we’ve valued and have always found room to make priorities.
Pragmatically, we get through so much more content! Take a look at any of our blogs that share a few things we’ve done in a week. Low student-teacher ratios, no lost time with transitions from year to year or even class to class, no unnecessary testing, no arbitrary finish lines to cross, and being able to design our curriculum means that our teachers can teach. All day. Every day.
And lastly, our teachers deserve it. Teaching this way requires so much more. More intention, more planning, more feedback, more communication, and generating A LOT. The least we can do to honor that work and to continue attracting high quality teachers (so many of which who are leaving the profession or not even entering) is to allow them the time to do their work, during working hours.
We have been putting these ideas into motion for some time. We piloted a 3 day a week option, that was too short. We piloted a 4 day a week option, that worked. We surveyed our teachers and families. We have started discussions on how to support families who need it on that fifth day. We have brainstormed which “administrative” type days to move to that fifth day so that our 4 days are most effective and so that we don’t alter families’ calendars as much.
We know our families and now, post COVID, we absolutely know that we and our kids are walking into a different life. They will have options on how and where to work. They will make choices that allows them to spend their time how they want. And we hope to continue modeling for them, how to make good use of their time and their lives now.
Creativity, innovation, being open to new ideas, trying, adjusting, experiencing, living…THANK YOU INDI-ED TEACHERS AND FAMILIES for continuing to help us LIVE OUR VALUES.
If your values align, we’d love to hear from you. There are only a few more spots available to join us next year.